The Cannes Film Festival – what it was like to be there

Writer: Helena Bergström

Updated: September 2026 | What's it like to visit Cannes during the famous film festival? We happened to be on the French Riviera during the Cannes Film Festival and experienced a city filled with movie stars, photographers, limousines, gala dresses and curious visitors. And of course we managed to catch a glimpse of a celebrity too!

Cannes Film Festival

The Cannes Film Festival, Festival de Cannes, is one of the world's most prestigious film festivals and is held every year in May. The first festival was planned for 1939 but was canceled when World War II broke out. The first full edition was held in 1946. The festival's top prize is Palme d'Or, the Palme d'Or, which is awarded to the best film in the main competition.

When we visited Cannes in the spring of 2015, the 68th film festival was underway. For us, it wasn't really the festival that brought us to the city. We simply happened to come to Cannes at exactly the right, or possibly completely wrong, time. In any case, it was impossible to miss what was going on.

Ingrid Bergman all over Cannes

A Swedish face greeted us almost everywhere in the city. Ingrid Bergman adorned the official poster for the 2015 film festival, the year of her birth centenary. The festival chose an image of the Swedish actress, describing her as a modern icon, a free woman and a bold actor.

The same year, the documentary was also shown Ingrid Bergman - In Her Own Words, or I am Ingrid, by Stig Björkman at the festival.

The posters of Ingrid Bergman were all over Cannes. The shops had picked up on the film theme and decorated their windows, and there was no doubt which event was currently dominating the city. It was of course a little extra funny that a Swedish face was looking down at us from the festival posters.

The whole of Cannes becomes a film festival

We have visited Cannes on other occasions, but during the film festival the atmosphere was completely different. There were barriers, police and security guards. Limousines glided through the city and people in amazing outfits appeared here and there. And there were photographers everywhere.

The most experienced ones, of course, had equipment that was considerably more advanced than ours. Some had even brought small ladders to get above the crowds and get a clear view. We didn't. A classic rookie mistake in the celebrity photography industry.

The hunt for a movie star

Of course we started to look around too. Not because we had any accreditations or were inside any exclusive barriers. We simply stood together with other curious people and tried to see what was happening from a distance.

But what can't you do for the blog? After some scouting and pushing, we actually managed to get a dividend. Gerard Depardieu! There he was.

And despite the lack of press accreditation, telephoto lenses and ladders, we even managed to get a picture. Our career as paparazzi thus reached its absolute peak.

Cannes is more than a film festival

Amidst all the festival excitement, we also had time to discover Cannes itself. In the harbor were enormous luxury yachts and along the Boulevard de la Croisette hotels, restaurants, shops and beaches replaced each other. But Cannes is not just luxury.

We also walked around the old town. Le Suquet, with narrow alleys and restaurants. Here we found a much more relaxed side of the city than the one we saw around the film festival center.

And you don't have to live the life of a movie star just because you're in Cannes. For lunch we had mussels and fries at a simple restaurant. That suited us perfectly.

READ MORE: Things to do in Cannes – film festival, old town and French Riviera

Can ordinary visitors experience the Cannes Film Festival?

Yes, but it is good to distinguish between experience the festival atmosphere and to actually participate in the film festival.

The Festival de Cannes is primarily an industry event and the official screenings and festival grounds normally require accreditation or an invitation. As a regular visitor, however, you can stay in Cannes, experience the nightlife, see the red carpet and festival grounds from a distance and maybe, like us, spot celebrities.

During the festival, there will also be Cinema de la Plage, where films are shown outdoors on the beach for the public. Programs and conditions vary from year to year. So no, you don't have to be a movie star to have fun in Cannes during the film festival. But a little ladder can apparently be good to have …

Is it worth visiting Cannes during the film festival?

If you like people, movies and a bit of organized chaos, we definitely like it. Cannes is much more intense during the festival than otherwise, and those who just want to stroll leisurely along the Croisette may of course prefer a different time of year.

For us, it was an unexpected bonus on the trip. We arrived in Cannes without press passes and without any plans to mingle with movie stars. There wasn't much mingling either. But we saw the limousines, the photographers, the gala dresses and Ingrid Bergman all over town. And we got our picture of Gérard Depardieu. That's still considered acceptable for two campervan travelers without a ladder.

See more along the French Riviera

Of course, there is much more to experience along the French Riviera. Here you will find more tips and reports:

• Saint-Tropez
• Things to do in Nice
• Guide to the French Riviera