3 Days in Cannes: a first timer’s guide to the Cannes Film Festival

14 min readMay 29, 2023

Hello! I attended the Cannes Film Festival for the first time this year and it was such a nutjob that I felt compelled to write up my experiences. If you’re a normal person who doesn’t work in media, and you want to attend Cannes — read on.

Before coming to the festival, I read up on a TON of other helpful articles, but most of them were a few years out of date and some processes have changed since then. I will link them at the bottom of this article since they are still incredibly helpful — but know that the actual ticketing processes to see the movies are very different today (as of May 2023)

Getting certified to attend the Cannes Film Festival

How do I get “access” to the Cannes Film Festival?

The Cannes Film Festival is incredibly elistist, which means that normal people like me typically don’t have a shot at attending and watching the films. You can’t buy tickets to attend the festival. You have to get accredited — either by getting invited (for the rich & famous) or by applying (for the plebs like me).

What are the different types of accreditations?

There are 2 types of accreditations that normal people can apply for. One is called “3 Days in Cannes” and the other is “Cinephiles”. They are both for people who have a love for cinema and you don’t need to work in the industry.

3 Days in Cannes is for people who are 28 & under by the time Cannes rolls around and it gives you access to all the venues and screenings — but only for a set 3 day period. Cinephiles is for any film lover and gives you access for the full 2 weeks — but only for certain venues and screenngs. From my research, 3 Days in Cannes is the better option, as it gets you significantly more access.

This article does a great job highlighting the differences: https://almostginger.com/3-days-in-cannes-accreditation/

What is the application process like?

It’s pretty simple. You write a personal statement, explaining your love for film and why you’re excited to attend Cannes Film Festival. ~1–2 pages is a good length. I don’t think they’re that scrutinizing with what you write, as long as you try. My biggest tip? APPLY EARLY.

Applications are on a rolling basis, and they do fill up — very quickly. I applied for the 3 Days in Cannes accreditation on March 7th and heard back on March 27. My friends applied a few weeks later at the end of March, and were rejected because all spots had filled up.

Here are some very helpful resources on the application process itself and some sample letters that people have sent in

Seeing the movies you want to watch

You need tickets to attend all movie screenings (unless you’re in the last minute line, more on this below) and you have to book tickets in advance.

Getting tickets via portal when it opens

Tickets are all virtual now. 4 days before the designated date, the Cannes ticketing website will open up to allow you to book tickets for that date. For example, you would log in on 5/20 to book tickets for 5/24.

For the 3 Days in Cannes accreditation, the reservation portal opened at 9:00 AM CET (France time). HOWEVER, what I learned is that the portal for more important people opens at 7:00 AM CET. That means that all the really sought after movies and screenings will all be snatched up before the site even opens for you.

Typically, this means that all the screenings @ the Grand Theatre Lumière are sold out, and most screenings @ Debussy Theatre are also sold out — or close to gone. Make sure you’ve seen the programme before ticketing day so you know which ones you are prioritizing (& which ones you are excited enough about to book if all others are full). One tip: open each film’s reservation in a new tab to save time navigating back to the general reservations page!

2 small quirks to note:

Once you book a movie, you cannot book other screenings of it. So if you are debating multiple screening times, you need to pick one
Once you book a movie, you will not be able to book (or even see the availability of) other movies that are playing during that time. If you want to hold out for other movies you weren’t able to secure, you’ll need to leave those time slots blank. For example, let’s say I really want to see Wes Anderson’s Asteroid City. There’s a 2 PM screening, but it’s all sold out. My 2nd choice movie is Anatomy of a Fall — that also has a 2 PM screening. If I book Anatomy of a Fall, I won’t be able to see if Asteroid City happens to free up later on. I’m locked into seeing Anatomy of a Fall.

This is what the ticketing website looks like. The greyed out ones or ones that say “COMPLET” are already booked up. Anything with a ticket, you can still book

Getting tickets via portal throughout the day

As the day progresses, people’s plans will change and they will cancel tickets to avoid being penalized. Screenings that were booked when you first checked often end up becoming available! Check the night before your day, and then throughout the day for the screenings you’re excited about.

According to some other sites, the best time to check for tickets is 1–2 hours before a showing, and after 10 PM (for screenings the day after).

I tried this technique to try my luck at an evening premiere at the Grand Theatre Lumiere and it was a madhouse. I was consistently refreshing the page for the movie Rapito from 8 PM — 9 PM. Each time, the page just says “COMPLET” but I did see the elusive “BOOK” button come up just 5 times. Unfortunately in all of those instances, someone must have snatched up the tickets before I could — but it was the difference of miliseconds. I could see this potentially working if you have the luck, and if you have the patience to do nothing but refresh your page for 1 hour straight.

I did, however, get more luck with day screenings. I randomly checked the website at ~11 AM and found a 2:30 PM screening to the Wes Anderson film (Asteroid City) at the red-carpeted Grand Theatre Lumière. There is definitely a lot of luck involved, and it won’t always pay off. But this is definitely a viable strategy to try!

Trading for tickets

There are multiple whatsapp and facebook groups where people are trading tickets with each other. People start trading for tickets from the moment they get them, to the day of the screening. Search for “3 Days in Cannes” facebook groups and follow-up on posts about whatsaspp groups to be added! Whatsapp is particularly active, and people use it also to get advice and meet up with others. My advice is to join these groups as soon as possible!

Lining up last minute

If you were unable to secure a ticket, you can always try your hand at the last minute line! You’ll usually be able to get in, but your seat might not be the best — since you’re only being let in once everyone else has already found a preferred seat. Below is my take on how difficult it is to line up for things last minute:

Evening premieres @ Le Grand Lumiere Theatre

Depending on how popular the showing is, you will need to show up between 2 hours — 13 hours early to wait in line to guarantee you make it in.

For popular premieres like Killers of the Flower Moon (Martin Scorcese) and Asteroid City (Wes Anderson), people started lining up at 1 AM the night before.

For less popular premieres, you’ll probably be okay getting there 2 hours before screen time. I joined the last minute line to go see The Pot-au-Feu 2 hours before screen time, and was one of the first people in line.

Interestingly, the line for last minute is actually quite limited. There is a small section where you can start queuing for the next screening — but once that is full, they don’t let more people in. Use your best judgment on any given movie’s popularity to determine how early you should show up.

Daytime screenings @ Le Grand Lumiere Theatre

Morning screenings are a good bet. Even if you don’t have a ticket, you’ll likely make it in if you line up ~1 hour before screen time. Things are more chill during the daytime. You can actually take some pictures of yourself on the red carpet (more on the red carpet below). You also don’t have to dress up in black tie. All day time screenings are all re-runs of in competition films that have already had their official premiere.

Other theatres (e.g., Debussy, Agnes Varda, Cineum)

You’ll pretty much always be able to nab a spot if you line up in the last minute line — unless it’s an incredibly popular screening. Morning screenings are your best bet to catch a very popular movie since most people don’t end up waking up in time for a 8:30 AM or 9:00 AM screening. I lined up 15 minutes before showtime to see Los Colonos at the Debussy Theatre at 2 PM and made it in just fine.

NOTE: some theatres do not have a last minute line. La Licorne for instance does not allow for last minute queuing. You either have a ticket, or you don’t watch.

Getting to your screening

If you get a ticket, they tell you to show up at least 20 minutes before the screening time starts. Realistically, you’ll still be let in after the fact but the good seats will have already been taken. What’s important is that you either make it to the screening you have booked, or you cancel your ticket / you give your ticket to someone else. You need to cancel at least 30 minutes before the screening time. If your ticket is at the Grand Theatre Lumière, you’ll need to cancel at least 1 hour ahead. If you no-show 2 or more screenings, your access will be revoked.

Sometimes people are late because traffic can be bad. In these instances, you will not be let in to watch the film, but they will scan your ticket to make sure you’re not penalized.

How do I get on the red carpet? And what should I expect?

All screenings at the Grand Theatre Lumière have a red carpet.

Daytime vs Daytime Screenings

Daytime screenings are easier to get tickets for and don’t require a dress code. They even allow you to take photos on the red carpet!

Night time screenings are very strict. It is almost impossible for cinephiles to nab a ticket to an evening premiere, since these are the most coveted tickets at Cannes — but you may get lucky! Night time is when the actual premieres happen, aka the first time the film is being shown to the public. The producers and cast will all be in attendance. Many other celebrities will likely also be in attendance, and they will parade down the red carpet in their beautiful gowns. If you’re waiting in line to enter one of these screenings, it’s also a great time & spot to celebrity watch!

Evening screenings are black tie only, and they do strictly enforce this. Both the guy in front of me and the guy behind me were turned away because they were not properly dressed, even though they had already waited an hour in line. Infractions like improper shoes (the guy was wearing some kind of suede boot) and improper pants (the guy behind me was wearing jeans even though he had a bowtie) will deny your entry. They are also incredibly strict about photos. No phones are allowed once you step onto the red carpet. That means no photos, selfies, etc for any night time red carpets. If you want your red carpet shot, go during the day!

Last Minute vs Ticketed Entry

If you manage to get an actual ticket, you get to walk to the whole red carpet. If you wait in the last minute line, you’ll only get to walk up part of the red carpet (aka the last flight of stairs).

Some people try their luck outside by standing outside the Palais to see if there is anyone giving away tickets. For me, I figured I’d play the safe route — by lining up last minute (if you’re early enough), you’re pretty much guaranteed to be able to at least make it in.

Breaking down the theatres

The theatres of Cannes

Le Grand Lumière Theatre and the Debussy Theatre are the cream of the crop. This is where they premier all the films that are In Competition (Lumière) and Un Certain Regarde (Debussy). These are located in the Palais Des Festivals — which is in the heart of Cannes.

Other theatres that are close to the Palais are the Agnès Varda and Buñuel Theatres.

The theatres that cater to 3 Days in Cannes / Cinephile / Normal Industry Person accreditation are those in the Cineum (includes Aurore, ScreenX, and IMAX), La Licorne, Alexandre III, Le Raimu, and Studio 13. You will have the best luck here finding secondary screenings of already premiered films.

Getting around the theatres

The biggest thing to know is that the theatres are very far apart! Once you get to Cannes, you will likely have to take the local bus to get to the other theatres — unless you are watching screenings at (or close to) the Palais.

To get to the Cineum (where I watched a lot of my movies), you need to take the bus from the train station. Budget 20–30 minutes of travel because there is traffic! When you’re booking screenings, make sure you have sufficient time to get from place to place.

What should I do if I didn’t get accredited?

This was especially relevant for me since I was the only person who got accredited in my friend group. 4 of my other friends all applied, but they applied too late. SO, I was desperately trying to figure out ways my friends could come watch films with me.

Can I still watch films?

Based on the previous articles I read, it seems like you used to be able to see films without a badge at some of the theatres dedicated to the cinephiles pass. HOWEVER as of 2023, this is no longer possible.

Everywhere requires strict badge access. We tried to get into the Cineum theatres and La Licorne and were turned away. Here are your next best alternatives:

Beg for blue tickets

Blue tickets are only given to the elite of Cannes. Movie producers, actors, special guests. Normal Cinephiles aren’t able to book these types of tickets through our portal. However, if you can get your hands on one — they come without strings attached. Even if you don’t have a badge, you can still get in as long as you have a ticket.

You are penalized for not using your ticket. So people will give away any spare tickets they are not planning on using in the hours leading up to a screening. If you’d like to try your luck, people typically stand outside the Palais and hold up signs that say “Invitations S.V.P” in the hopes of securing a ticket.

2. Catch a movie on the beach

Every night, there is a free screening open to the public ~9:30 PM that screens a re-run of a movie. They have cute little chairs lined up on the beach and they even give out blankets to endure the chilly evening air. These are not premieres of new movies, but screenings of old movies that are critically acclaimed.

The movie I watched on the beach was actually my favourite one that I watched all festival (perhaps a controversial take). But don’t think that just because it’s not a premiere, it won’t be any good!

The cinema at the beach (plage mace) is not ticketed, so badge holders and non badge holders have to line up all the same. We got there ~8 PM and there was already a line! Despite that, we were still one of the first people in and got our pick of seats. If you show up by ~9 PM, you should be able to find a spot!

Our screening of One Deadly Summer (L’Été Meurtrier)

3. Make a friend who is leaving early and borrow their pass

If you enjoy talking to strangers, you could try to make friends with people at the festival to see if anyone is heading out early whose badge you could nab for the remainder of the time. If you do this however, you should only go to the theatres that will not cause suspicion. Tactically, that just means avoiding Lumière and Debussy. These two theatres have the tightest security and they check to make sure the face on the badge matches your face. If you are borrowing someone else’s pass, they will notice. While this means that attending movies with any sort of a red carpet are out of the question, at least you’re getting to see movies!

If I can’t watch films, where is the best place to spot celebrities?

Hotel bars are a great place, BUT they won’t let you in unless you’re a guest of the hotel. If you walk in with enough confidence and a bit of an attitude, you might be able to make it in.

The next best option is to get a good spot outside of the Palais before a premiere, where you’ll be able to see celebs walk down the red carpet. There is a small tent close to the red carpet as well, where you can wait to try to get into the enclosed section that will let you be closer to the celebrities gracing the red carpet.

Getting to Cannes from Nice

The best move would definitely have been to stay in Cannes — but we were here for a longer stay and made Nice our home base.

The train from Nice to Cannes takes ~30 minutes. But because we were living in old nice, we had to budget an extra 30 minutes of travel to the train station. All in all, my commute to Cannes was ~1 hour each way.

Trains leave relatively frequently from the stations (one every 20–30 minutes), so if you miss one, you can catch the next. Trains do stop running after 10 PM, so if you stay for a late night showing, you will have to Uber home. Ubers are ~70 Euro from Cannes to Nice.

Additional Note: The train ticketing systems are a bit wack and buying tickets online doesn’t work. Make sure you budget enough time to buy a physical ticket from the station (would arrive ~20–30 minutes before departure). You actually don’t buy tickets for a specific time — just for a specific day. So I would recommend buying a roundtrip ticket since you have flexibility on when you take the train back. You can even stock up and buy the next few days’ tickets as well!

Miscellaneous things I learned about

Badge tiers

Each person gets a lanyard with a little card on it that indicates your status at the Cannes Film Festival. Different colours indicate different statuses. I was trying to sus out what all the different colours mean, so here’s what I learned

Black: Producers

Blue: Press

Pink: Regular industry member

Pink & Orange: 3 days in Cannes

Green: Cinephile

Orange: Staff

Photographers

There are a bunch of photographers wandering the grounds near the Palais. They may ask to take your photo. This means that they have a studio somewhere in Cannes that they will ask you to visit later if you are interested in seeing/buying your photos