Home > Filmmaker Resources and Information > Cannes Guide > Travel and accommodation

Flights

The nearest International Airport is Nice (NCE). If you want to keep costs down and save money on your flight (and if you know your actual dates in plenty of time), it is worth checking out the following websites from the beginning of the year:

www.easyjet.co.uk
www.ba.com

www.aerlingus.com

For a good flight comparison website:

www.skyscanner.net

Accommodation

Most hotels in Cannes will only accept bookings for the duration of the festival i.e. 11 nights. Check out the following website for information on hotels in Cannes: www.cannes.fr. The alternatives are either hotels outside Cannes or apartments in Cannes or nearby. The following are some websites offering apartments:

www.rentals-of-cannes.com
www.azur-online.com
www.immosol.fr
www.pierreetvacances.co.uk
(they have two holiday apartment complexes in Cannes La Bocca which is about a 20 mins walk from Cannes itself)
www.aici.fr
www.cannesrentals.com

Before you go

If you are selling a feature film, research which overseas sales agents/distributors have bought similar films in the past.  Email them before departure asking for a meeting. Send them some brief details about your project and company. Set up some appointments. If you are organising a Marché screening(s), email screening times in advance to all prospective buyers.

If you are looking for finance, ensure your presentation pack (script, synopsis, cast info, budget etc) is professionally put together. Also ensure that your online profile is both up-to-date and iimpressive. Again research is paramount. Who has funded similar films in the past? Contact them before departure to arrange a meeting. Do bear in mind that British producers will not necessarily be keen to meet with people from the UK whilst in Cannes – they will be looking to extend their international contacts.

What to take with you

The following are essential items to bring with you:

• Large supply of business cards
• Promotional material on your project (flyers, postcards, press pack)
• CV and company profile
• If completed, an adequate supply of DVDs/screeners of your film. However ensure these are time-coded, and of a relatively low quality as piracy can completely derail a film's entire future.
• If you intend to go to an official competition/out of competition screening in the evening, men will need dinner jacket and black tie and women evening/cocktail dress
• Umbrella/raincoat – it does rain in the South of France in May
• Comfortable shoes – walking up and down the Croisette is very tiring. Blisters and aching feet are the norm
• Suntan lotion/sun glasses.

Mobile phones

If you wish to avoid the costs of using your UK mobile phone in Cannes, you can hire one for the duration of the festival through www.cellhire.com/cannes.

Food and drink

It can be very expensive to eat and drink in Cannes. The industry tends to hang out at the Petit Majestic (see below) in the evenings – spilling out onto the streets which the police have tried (not always successfully) to close to traffic. Alcohol prices are considerably cheaper here than at the bars of the Majestic or Carlton hotels located on the Croisette.

Restaurants proliferate in Cannes. The area around the Old Port is well known for its fish restaurants such as Le Caveau 30 (45 Rue Felix Faure, Tel: 04 93 39 06 33); Pierrot 1er (51 Rue Felix Faure, Tel: 04 93 39 03 95) and La Coquille (65 Rue Felix Faure, Tel: 04 93 99 17 61).  One of the most popular restaurants with festival attendees (advance booking recommended) is La Mere Besson (13 Rue des Frère Pradignac, Tel: 04 93 39 59 24) which specialises in Provencale cuisine. There are several very popular pizza restaurants - Le Vesuvio (68 La Croisette, Tel: 04 93 43 33 09) and La Pizza near the old port (3 Quai Saint Pierre, Tel: 04 93 39 22 56).

Passport

There are few more time-consuming or irritating things than to have to replace a lost or stolen passport. First make a declaration of theft or loss at the police station (see below) then contact your consulate for details of how and where to get the papers stamped to enable you to travel.

Best put your passport in a hotel safe, locked suitcase or whatever but don’t carry it around with you – a photocopy will suffice as proof of identity except for the day you go down to the Palais to pick up your accreditation.

Thieves

During festival time Cannes attracts many petty thieves and pickpockets. Try not to carry large sums of money with you and leave any valuables locked in the hotel safe or locked away in your apartment.

 
N.B. If you go to for a drink in the evening (especially at the Petit Majestic) NEVER under any circumstances leave bags,  handbags or laptops on the ground – they will disappear in a flash.