CANNES FILM FESTIVAL

The first international film festival in Cannes in September 1946, but the idea of the south of France a major forum "movie of the free world" was born much earlier. After the scandal at the Venice Film Festival in 1938, only one person managed to find a way out of this situation. New page festival movement, opened a French diplomat Philippe Erlanzhe - a member of the jury, a lawyer by education and historian. He, a liberal idealist, it seemed that the looming threat of war can and must confront the culture. And F. Erlanzhe decided that, in contrast to Germany and the Italian must establish kontrfestival in France.

Returning to Paris, F. Erlanzhe immediately began to compile a report to Jean Zeyu, Minister of Education and Fine Arts, which in those years and was responsible for the French cinema. G. Zey warmly supported the proposal, but faced with the objections of other ministers, who preferred a more cautious attitude towards members of the "Triple Alliance". The organization of the French Film Festival has divided the cabinet into two camps, the debate between which continued throughout the 1938-1939 winter.

A positive decision, again facilitated the fascist dictator, when the spring of 1939 Hitler′s troops invaded Prague. It would seem that this fact should have been cause by the French Ministers sharp protest, but the number of "convicts" has further increased. But supporters of the idea of holding a film festival, too, have stepped up their activities.

Photo — «Cannes Film Festival»

F. Erlanzhe and M Zeya unexpectedly supported Albert Sarah - the powerful interior minister, after which the organization of the festival had been settled in principle. However, "careful" not satisfied with the government and imposed a discussion about the venue. For the film festival were offered two cities - Biarritz and Cannes, and then F. Erlanzhe led a group of experts who visited both the resort and have chosen for the Cannes Film Festival. The organization he was assigned to the National Association of Dramatic Art, whose director was a tireless F. Erlanzhe, and became executive director of the film festival.

He signed a contract with the "father of cinema" Louis Lumiere of the distinguished chairmanship, attracted to the work of writer J. Huysmans, who was then director of the Department of Fine Arts and was famous for his administrative and diplomatic talents, as well as numerous connections in high places. All herculean efforts to organize the first film festival in Cannes served enthusiast F Erlanzhe. He collected the competition program, to be involved in future film forum "star" actors and actresses of the time, finding the time and for his creative work, continuing the historical issledovaniya. 1

In June 1939 the French made an official statement that Cannes is fully ready to receive guests and films. The opening of the Cannes Film Festival scheduled for September 12, 1939, but then this date was moved to the first number. Despite the Herculean efforts of F.

Photo — «Cannes Film Festival»

Erlanzhe festival in Cannes was a failure, because it was attended by only 5 countries. In France itself, his films have brought the United States, Britain, Belgium and the USSR, and the picture presented by Czechoslovakia, in fact was a French production.

Experiencing difficulties with a competitive program, the main organizers of the festival made a bet on the measures decorative nature. Highest award - the "Cup Lumiere" - the winner was supposed to hand himself Louis Lumiere - Honorary Chairman of Festival. But after Nazi Germany attacked Poland in Europe was not until the film festival, and the opening of the Cannes festival has receded to 7 years. Difficulties with the organization of the film festival were after the war, but they have not stopped enthusiasts, who led all the same Erlanzhe F. and J. Huysmans. However, in Cannes almost impossible to find suitable premises, as nearly all municipal property requisitioned the General Staff of the American occupation army.

Then it was decided to hold film festival in 1946, when the Americans were to leave French territory. But in that year the organizers Film Forum has had to face much greater difficulties. First, continued U. S. military presence, and secondly - a luxury resort in the past then a fairly miserable spectacle of the former cleanliness and order had only dreamed of. Even the huge billboards installed not for advertising and decorating the streets, and to cover the ruins. There was a shortage of electricity, and instead of the prewar neon for illumination had to use the old fireworks.

Photo — «Cannes Film Festival»

Targeted campaign to discredit the film festival beginning of the press. She crowed about the fact that in September 1946 was to resume its work in the Venice Biennale and the Italians have had an application and contest programs from 9 countries, while France was still empty-handed. There were other difficulties and complications, but still managed to Cannes to take more than 500 guests who brought with them 46 feature and 68 short films. In an instant, Cannes has become a European kinostolitsu. Quay La Croisette was full of bright posters, wandered around the city separated by war filmmakers in Europe and America, the main festival hall in the old casino was packed . . .

The first Cannes Film Festival jury headed by J. Huysmans, and all it was 18 people - one representative from each country: the Soviet Union was represented by Sergei Gerasimov. Film festival opens showing Soviet documentary film "Berlin," directed by Julia Reisman, who was enthusiastically received by the public. The main prize was symbolically divided among 11 feature films - "in recognition of achievements of national film schools. " And the first director, inherited the Cannes Olympus, became Rene Clement with the film "Battle of the rails", telling of the exploits of members of the French Resistance movement.

In 1946, the Grand National Prize has been awarded the Soviet film "The Great Breakthrough", a major international prize of the Association of Authors, Composers and Publishers of music for the best scenario presented B.

Photo — «Cannes Film Festival»

Chir, and the same prize was awarded to the film "Stone Flower" - the color. Subsequently, the Cannes Film Festival awards have been noted such Soviet films as "The Kuban Cossacks", "Conspiracy of the doomed," "brave people", "Big Family" and others.

In subsequent years Cannes Film Festival, despite the fact that he spent a half-ruined and half-starved Europe, was quickly gaining momentum. Only in 1948 and 1950 the management was forced to cancel kinoparad because of financial problems associated with the construction of a giant festival palace "Palace". But by 1955, when the main prize of the festival has acquired its final form - the Palme d′Or ", 1 - Cannes turned into the most luxurious and most prestigious film festival in the world. It was paid tribute to such masterpieces as "Death in Venice by Luchino Visconti," Blow-Up "by Michelangelo Antonioni, and many others, who bypassed his attention an Academy Award.

Since the founding organizers of the Cannes Film Festival sought to expand its geography. In the postwar years, when new states were formed, their film school aroused great interest. In large part thanks to the Cannes film festival to the world famous filmmakers of India, Japan, China and other countries.

First, it is difficult to believe that the rotation of the numerous social events, sports and other leisure pastimes in Cannes can decide the fate of films created by great masters. However, in the city did not distract from the festival of life: it is standard or even not at all poetic.

Photo — «Cannes Film Festival»

From the old Provence, preserved almost intact in the nearby towns of Cannes survived only an ancient fortress. On its marble plaque engraved lines Mistral, the poet of the XIX century, Slavs "Canes - child waves and sun. But the grim fortress pushed somewhere far to the side of modern spa and respectable Kann - "city of roses and an elegant sport," as they say in advertising brochures.

And in May, Cannes becomes the film festival. The participants propose to contest what they consider his greatest accomplishment and pride, a new word in the art of cinema. It involves full-length and short films shot during the 12 months before the festival, had not been exhibited outside the country of manufacture and not participating in other competitive film festivals. "Palme d′Or at the festival were" Dolce Vita "by Federico Fellini, a great success fell to the lot of Soviet film" The Lady with the Dog "and" Ballad of a Soldier.

For the best debut prize is awarded "Golden Camera". Other awards are the Cannes Film Festival Grand Prix (Grand Special Prize) Jury Prize for best male and female roles, Best Screenplay, Best Director and Best Cinematography. The jury may also award another prize of full-length film and two shorts, both of which should not exceed 15 minutes.