“They say there will be fewer stars this year. But hey, Jodie Foster will be there and it’s not nothing! On the other hand, we really wonder about the choice of Mylène Farmer for the jury. “Jo” Morpelli always has a strong opinion. For years, he has been speaking on behalf of the “stepladder gang”. These fans in search of the best photos have already been planting for two days in front of the forecourt of the palace, not yet adorned in red a few hours before the curtain of the 74th Cannes Film Festival, this Tuesday evening.
“Some could not make the trip with this edition shifted from May to July because of the pandemic. We are still 50 less than usual ”, testifies the Var, while workers are still busy to polish the decor of the famous stair climbs where the giant poster featuring Spike Lee, the president of the jury, will take pride of place until the awards ceremony and the long-awaited Palme d’Or on July 17.
The clash between juillettists and festival-goers
With this reunion between Cannes and the Seventh Art, still marked by an uncertain health context after a 2020 edition already canceled by the Covid-19, the Croisette is in turmoil. First traffic jams. Especially since festival-goers will meet summer vacationers for the first time. On the sand, where the festival teams finish setting up the “Beach Cinema”, it has never smelled like sunscreen so much. The juillettists have unfolded their parasol and spread their towels. Flip-flops and floral shorts atmosphere versus designer dresses, tuxedos and high heels to come.
In this unprecedented configuration, security will be accordingly, we assure the city of Cannes, which has received police reinforcements. At the entrances to the palace, the organizers will also test for the first time new devices for the detection of firearms and explosives in continuous flow. No need to stop to empty your pockets, millimeter waves will scan visitors. And at least that will be needed to try to streamline traffic that risks being slowed down by checking health passes.
PCR tests to be performed every 48 hours
Because festival-goers will have to show white paw, every day, in relation to Covid-19. Vaccinated or not, everything is planned. In the Old Port of Cannes, a large screening center has been set up. And festival-goers who are not immune or who have not received injections will have to go there… every 48 hours, free of charge. On Monday alone, the very first participants were 2,000 to come and spit into a test tube. To go faster, the saliva tests were chosen.
“We will be able to go up to 3,000 daily samples,” explains Alexia Tardieu, manager of this center set up by the Biogroup laboratories. In addition to those that our teams will go and do directly in the hotels, at the request of the film teams. “And in particular stars.
Fewer party venues and smaller gauges
Stars, whose movements, outside the palace, will be more restricted. On the Croisette, much less structures and party venues have been set up this year. No Magnum beach, no Silencio, no Sandra & Co Suite… And the discos are awaiting the signing of the decrees authorizing their reopening.
Nespresso beach is back. The Medusa, at the Palm beach, is already since the 1st. Albane Cléret, one of the last queens of Cannes nights, also made the trip. Just like the creators of Le Nomade, who have been settling for several years on the terrace of the Five Seas hotel.
“We started to set up the decor, with a lot of greenery, on Sunday evening. And it will continue until [ce mardi] 1 p.m., explains Jean-Baptiste Péan of the Cartel agency, who will again offer this spot with the Perchoir team in Paris. We plan a lot of film evenings, in smaller groups. “Including that of the feature film which will open the festival this Tuesday evening: Anette by Leos Carax, with Marion Cotillard and Adam Driver.