Can regular people attend the Cannes Film Festival?

Meryl Streep, Jane Fonda, Faye Dunaway, Juliette Binoche, Willem Dafoe, Naomi Campbell, Heidi Klum, Chris Hemsworth... a seemingly never-ending roll call of screen legends, actresses, actors, models, directors and industry bigwigs have been strutting up and down the red steps, the fabled red carpet in Cannes at the 77th edition of the International Film Festival. This year’s event got up and running on 14 May and runs through to 25 May with five to six screenings per day at various cinemas in and around la Croisette, including exclusive gala screenings at the Grand Théâtre Lumière.

Streep, Lucas and Studio Ghibli recognized at Cannes 2024

The Cannes Film Festival culminates with the presentation of the Palme d’Or to the director of the best film with 22 filmmakers in the running for the top prize, including seasoned vets such as Francis Ford Coppola (a winner in 1974 & 1979), David Cronenberg and Paolo Sorrentino alongside relative newcomers like Payal Kapadia, Yorgos Lanthimos and Agathe Riedinger. This year, three Honorary Palme d’Or awards will be handed to American actress Meryl Streep, Star Wars creator George Lucas and Japanese animation company Studio Ghibli.

Since the Palais des Festivals on La Croisette promenade first hosted the festival in 1949, the two-week event has been an opportunity for filmmakers to showcase their work as well as a chance to network with fellow festival-goers - basically everyone connected to the industry - directors, producers, actors, actresses, critics... everyone who is anyone heads down to the French Riviera to be photographed on the red steps, promote their latest work and hustle for future projects.

Who can apply for accreditation to the Cannes Film Festival?

So can Joe Public attend Cannes? Are everyday film buffs and cinema-goers able to brush shoulders with the stars on La Croisette? The simple answer to that is no. The Cannes Film Festival is reserved exclusively for film industry professionals - all of whom must apply for an accreditation to gain access to the Festival area. The accreditation process is strict and invitees are issued with color-coded passes with different access and priority levels, which allow prioritized access to various events. Accreditation requests, from authorised media representatives only, must be made to the Press Office or the Audiovisual Press Office.

The color of your badge determines which parts of the festival you will have access to or not - a white badge is pretty much access all areas while a pink badge will get you in to most but not all of the events. Photographers and members of the media are issued a yellow badge which gain access to press briefings but not screenings. Anyone who tries to gain access to the Festival itself, the Marché du Film (Film Market), International Village, lounges or programmed events such as seminars, workshops and masterclasses will have to pass through security.

Around 15,000 accredited festival-goers from more than 140 different countries are expected to attend the Marché du Film this year, surpassing last year’s figures. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is high on the agenda at Cannes this year with panel discussions, interactive demos and hands-on experiences exploring AI technology at the recently-opened beachfront Microsoft Café.

While the main festival is off-limits for the general public, non-professionals are not entirely excluded from Cannes. Cinema lovers between the ages of 18-28 can request accreditation for the 3 Jours à Cannes (3 Days in Cannes) program which offers three sessions over three days, with screenings of all of the films in the Official Selection (Competition, Out of Competition, Special Screenings, Un Certain Regard). The 3 Jours à Cannes program takes place at the Cinéum in La Bocca district of the city.

There is also a possible to gain access to sessions at the Palais des Festivals (and in the Grand Théâtre Lumière for certain screenings) - subject to availability, with professionals having priority. Film enthusiasts (members of a cinema or an active film’ association), film students (individuals), educational and school groups (high school and post-graduate students in the film section) can also apply for the Cinephiles accreditation - a valid school attendance certificate must be presented along with the application form. The Cannes Cinéphiles program gives access to the films of the Official Selection, Semaine de la Critique and Quinzaine des Cinéastes in some Cannes’ theatres.