10 curiosities and awkward moments of the Cannes Film Festival that thrilled audiences no less than films

2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55

The film festival held annually in France is famous not only for its program and high-profile premieres. Representatives of the world of cinema consider it not just a competition, but a whole way of life, subject to certain rules and a strict dress code. And at the ceremonies of the Cannes Film Festival, loud curiosities and scandals constantly occur related to the statements or behavior of artists, directors, journalists and paparazzi.

Awkward moment

In the middle of the last century, the Cannes Festival was known for its severity and even some stiffness. But, as you know, there is always someone who wants to add a peppercorn to measured correctness. So, in 1954, the actress Simone Silva invited her colleague and screenwriter Robert Mitchum to be photographed together. Of course, he did not expect a trick, and therefore involuntarily recoiled when Simone, instantly throwing off part of her clothes, was stripped to the waist. The photographers, of course, managed to take pictures, and the next morning the couple's pictures were in all publications. In any case, the actress achieved her goal and attracted everyone's attention.

Dangerous party

In 1957, Michael Anderson's film Around the World in 80 Days was presented at the festival. Producer Michael Todd decided to enhance the impression of the film and bring the participants of the party he organized as close to the wild as possible and brought some real lions and tigers to the event. The effect was overwhelming, but the producer clearly counted on a different reaction. The fact is that wild cats were not ready for spotlights and constant flashes from cameras, they were unnerved by the noise reigning around and irritated by the smell of food. As a result, animals began to simply rush at people. Frightened guests rushed to the exit, a crush began. Fortunately, there were no casualties.

Aborted flight

In 1968, the Cannes Film Festival began its work as usual, despite the protests raging around. Then the country was shaken by a social crisis, which resulted in demonstrations, riots and an almost 10 millionth general strike, and subsequently led to the resignation of the government. The festival was supposed to end on May 24, 1968, but closed its work five days earlier. On May 18, press conferences were held led by Jean-Luc Godard and François Truffaut. Her main message was the demand to close the festival, showing respect for the protesters and their demands. After that, the films began to be removed from the competition, and the jury members announced their withdrawal from the commission. As a result, the Cannes Film Festival ended its work ahead of schedule, and no prizes were awarded.

Boycott from photographers

As you know, photographers always take pictures of the stars appearing on the red carpet, but even before the ceremony itself, traditional photo shoots are held. French actress Isabelle Adjani in 1983 showed complete disregard for preliminary photo shoots and generally behaved quite arrogantly towards journalists and photographers, posing only to those who paid her for the shooting. In retaliation, the photographers who worked at the Cannes Film Festival, at the moment Ajani appeared on the red carpet, defiantly put their cameras down.

Dubious treat

17 years after the prematurely closed festival, in 1985, one of the troublemakers, Jean-Luc Godard, again hit the front pages of newspapers. During the presentation of the film "Detective", a weighty cake, thrown by one of the spectators, flew right into the director's face. The latter was offended by Godard, not being able to understand his plan, and the director had to make a good face: he immediately tasted a very dubious treat, said that it turned out to be tasty and, slightly putting himself in order, finished the speech.

Shocking Tarantino

In 1994, Quentin Tarantino literally challenged the stiffness and strictest dress code of the festival. He showed up for the awards ceremony, where he was supposed to receive the Palme d'Or for Pulp Fiction, in an old shabby T-shirt and, it seems, even in jeans. Despite the status of the winner, he did not manage to get on the stage in this form. The organizers, deeply offended by the director's disregard for the dress code, sent him to put himself in proper shape. But Tarantino managed to shock the audience and at the moment of receiving the prize itself, when he returned in a ceremonial suit. In response to the insult sounded from the audience from one of the spectators, the director immediately reacted by showing the unrestrained young lady the middle finger.

Offended representatives of the order

In 1995, the guards who worked at the Cannes Film Festival expressed their attitude to the film Hate by Mathieu Kassowitz and everyone who took part in its creation. As you know, the police are not represented in the film at their best. The security at the moment when the members of the film crew walked the red carpet, they just turned their backs on them. Despite the disapproval of the guards, the film won the Best Director award.

Persona non grata

In 2011, director Lars von Trier could well qualify for the Palm Branch for his film Melancholy. But at a press conference, he made a too rash statement about his negative attitude towards Israel and about public sympathy for Hitler. At the same time, the phrase that he was a Nazi sounded from his lips. These words deprived the director of any hopes of receiving an award, and the organizers declared Lars von Trier a persona non grata. He was also not saved by the later published statement of apology and explanations that he was not a Nazi and his words were a joke.

Shy Sophie Marceau

The actress has repeatedly called modesty her main virtue, but at the same time she twice became the heroine of the scandalous chronicle of the Cannes Film Festival. On the red carpet in 2005, she slipped the strap of a light dress, exposing her breasts. Sophie Marceau, of course, quickly put herself in order, but the photographers managed to take pictures, which the next day appeared in all the newspapers. The second embarrassment happened ten years later, when a gust of wind opened the smell of her paying right to the waist, allowing everyone to see the actress's underwear.

Nosy journalist

The well-bred Cannes public in 2014 was shocked by the act of the Ukrainian journalist Vitaliy Sedyuk. While the actors who voiced the cartoon "Train Your Dragon 2" posed in front of the cameras on the red carpet, Seduc sneaked up behind America Ferrera and simply dived under her skirt. He, of course, was quickly dragged away and escorted to the police station, but the actress was seriously scared. There, by the way, he stated that there was nothing out of the ordinary in his act. True, the management of the TV channel where he worked did not agree with their employee, so Vitaly Sedyuk was fired.

It should be noted that Academy Awards ceremony also not without scandals and incidents, which were then discussed for a long time by both journalists and ordinary viewers.