May came and went in a blur with two of the region’s biggest events keeping us busy – Cannes Film Festival and Monaco Grand Prix.
The 69th Cannes Film Festival was another high profile event that had the usual award surprises and snubs, red carpet highlights, glittering soirées and more than a fair share of luxury yachts present.
Cannes Film Festival 2016 Award Highlights
This year’s Feature Films Jury was presided over by Australian director/screenwriter/producer George Miller who gave the main award for a Feature Film, the Palme d’Or, to British filmmaker Ken Loach for his socially conscious drama I, Daniel Blake. Loach’s merits as a filmmaker clearly strike a chord with Cannois juries – this was his second win for the Palme d’Or having secured it 10 years ago for The Wind That Shakes The Barley.
Cannes Film Festival is truly international for award recognition; Best Actor was awarded to Shahab Hosseini from Iranian movie The Salesman, Best Actress was claimed by Jaclyn Jose for a Filipino film, Ma’Rosa with the Jury Prize going to American Honey.
Personal Shopper starring Kristen Stewart was booed at screening, however Frenchman Olivier Assayas went on to win a Best Director award. The ‘Un Certain Regard’ prize went to a Scandinavian-German film about a boxer, The Happiest Day in the Life of Olli Maki.
Star Spotting & Party Hopping
Cannes Film Festival is renowned for hosting all the top film stars from the U.S, U.K and France as well as celebrities from music, fashion and luxury brands. The red carpet throngs with stars and supermodels wearing the latest haute couture gowns and jewellery, and courtesy of Instagram there was a multitude of balcony backdrops from the Carlton, Martinez and Majestic hotels.
George Clooney was a big media magnet alongside actress Julia Roberts, who was spotted dining at celebrity favourite restaurant Michelangelo in Antibes with actor Kevin Spacey and singer Usher also stopping by. Victoria’s Secret model Adriana Lima balanced charity commitments and movie premieres with low-key visits to the Musée Picasso and L’Etable Fromagerie cheese shop in Antibes.
Hôtel du Cap-Eden-Roc was the venue for some sublime evenings of glamour during Cannes Film Festival – the Swiss jeweller de Grisogono’s party was an A-list function, as was the Vanity Fair event co-hosted by HBO and Chopard that welcomed Salma Hayek, Russell Crowe, Kirsten Dunst, Caitriona Balfe, Heidi Klum, Colin Firth and a number of top models including Petra Nemcova and French model Cindy Bruna. The amfAR Cinema against AIDS gala night was another successful fundraiser that got the VIP guests excited with a 1970’s theme ignited by a performance from the Village People and disco-themed fashion show.
On the water, the photocall for Dreamworks new animated movie Trolls saw singer Justin Timberlake and actress Anna Kendricks take to a classy Riva while Vieux Port and the bay of Cannes heated up with superyacht parties held nightly.
Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen threw his legendary Cannes Film Festival party for over 200 guests on board his 126m Lürssen Octopus. The ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ theme spared no expense with models costumed as woodland creatures, fairy lights twinkling on deck, stunning ‘Enchanted Garden’ floral arrangements and Baroque chaise loungers interspersed amidst the crystal wine buckets.
Superyachts at Cannes Film Festival 2016
Whether they were berthed in Vieux Port, anchored at nearby Cap d’Antibes or Golfe Juan or moored near the Lérins Islands due to bad weather at the start of the Festival, it was clear that staying on board a luxury yacht during Cannes Film Festival was the preferred option.
As well as Octopus, we noticed 107m explorer yacht Ulysses, 2016 World Superyacht Award-winner 83.5m Savannah and 163m goliath Eclipse anchored off Juan les Pins.
Steven Spielberg was in town for his adaptation of Roald Dahl’s BFG movie and hosted guests on board his superyacht, Seven Seas. The Lérins Islands sheltered 73.51m Mogambo, 68.49m Lady S and 78.43m C2.
The bay of Cannes also caught photographer’s eyes for cruise liner AIDAstella and a controversial appearance by Sea Shepherd, proving media coverage in Cannes goes beyond the red carpet.
This article was written by Rebecca Whitlocke, who with over 10 years travel industry experience loves to share ‘must-do’ destination tips and hidden spots to discover in France and beyond.
To discuss your Cannes event corporate yacht charter requirements, please contact:
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