The 76th edition of the Cannes Film Festival in numbers

2023-05-16 18:35:00

This Tuesday, May 16 begins the 76^e edition of the largest film festival in the world. The opportunity for many stars of the industry to parade on the red carpet.

By Leo Rougagnou

The Cannes Film Festival logo.
© Mourad ALLILI / MAXPPP

Published on 05/16/2023 at 6:35 p.m.

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HArison Ford, Natalie Portman or even Johnny Depp. All will tread the steps of the festival. For twelve days, from May 16 to 27, 21 films will compete for the Palme d’Or. The nine members of the jury, chaired by the Swede Ruben Östlund, will have the heavy task of choosing the winner.

Chiara Mastroianni will be the mistress of the opening ceremony, which will take place at 7 p.m. and will be broadcast live on France 2. During the celebration, the American Michael Douglas will receive the Palme d’or d’honneur for his his career.

The party will continue with the screening of the opening film, Jeanne du Barry, by the French Maïwenn, starring Johnny Depp.

156 films presented

21 feature films in the running for the Palme d’Or, 24 for Un certain regard, 20 in the Quinzaine des cinéastes, 11 in Critics’ Week… By adding the parallel sections, the special screenings, a total of 156 films will be screened for twelve days in Cannes. The longest film will last 4h12. Released in 1969, Crazy Love by Jacques Rivette will occupy the most nostalgic spectators, during the screenings of Cannes Classics.

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20 000 euros

This is the value of the famous Palme d’Or, the ultimate reward of the festival. Its price is justified by the 18-carat gold leaf resting on a 1.2 kg rock crystal.

2,160 meters of red carpets

The 24 steps of the Palais des Festivals are at the heart of the expectations of photographers and organizers. More than two kilometers of mats are needed for the event. The red fabric that connects the edge of the door of the stars, at the top of the steps, is 60 m long. It must be renewed before each official screening of films in competition or out of competition. This represents approximately a change of carpet three times a day.

Fourth most followed event in the world

The film festival is the fourth global event. Among the most followed and most publicized are the Football World Cup, the Olympic Games and the Tour de France.

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4,800 journalists from 90 different countries

The festival is also an opportunity to bring together information media from around the world. 2,000 media gathered for the event with no less than 4,000 journalists on site. In forty years, the figures have multiplied by five.

Two consecrated women only

with his movie The Piano LessonJane Campion was the first woman to have received a Palme d’or, in 1993. She finished tied with Chen Kaige for Farewell my concubine. It took almost thirty years to see a woman win the award again. In 2021, the Frenchwoman Julia Ducournau wins the Grail with her film Titanium.