MY NIGHT AT THE CANNES FILM FESTIVAL

By Laura Kemp

I haven’t the faintest idea what’s happening to me but all of a sudden I find myself being invited to very glamorous events. This time the closing ceremony of the Cannes Film Festival. As a journalist I’m used to applying for press-passes, but this time I’m on the other side of the rope. The festival has been running for 11 days but Sunday is the big day as they hand out the most important film prizes: the Palme d’Ors.

When I told my good friend David Laport (one of Holland’s best designers) what’s on my agenda, he promptly invited me to his studio to try on some dresses. What a dilemma, especially choosing between these two. My gut tells me to wear the black dress to the venue, my absolute favorite, though not one that just slips over your head. Thank goodness David and his assistants instruct me on how to close the dress. “Push hard under the breasts, fasten the middle hook, top zip, bottom hook, bottom zip and done.” His last words were; “Good luck darling.” And I was on my way

With the dress draped over my shoulder I cycled home alongside the canals and wondered what others do to prepare for such an event. I couldn’t come up with more than ‘a nice long bath’ and ‘a good night’s sleep.’

Cannes

24 hours later, it’s time. The dress is fastened and in the hotel I straighten my hair (this is the only ‘style’ I can do by myself) then I slip on my shoes by Zara.

I join my company and we walk to the building. It’s very busy and we pass lots of spectators who are pushing and shoving to catch a glimpse. To my surprise I see dozens of dressed up girls holding a sign ‘ONE TICKET PLEAS’. The moment I make eye contact they start to beg. I ask a 16 year old girl if doing this is any use. She says it works sometimes.

There’s a waiting line before the red carpet that’s managed by a red-carpet-manager. This means he’ll signal you when it’s your turn. The actress Valeria Bruni Tedeschi, Carla Bruni’s sister, is standing in front of me. She crosses the carpet at a snail’s pace, stopping to be photographed almost every step of the way. When I come on to the carpet I hear a few clicks, thanks to David’s beautiful dress. I wonder if I should take a selfie now that I’m here. Fun memory for later? I decide against it, too scared, and I move on. On entering the hall I see that everything that happens on the red carpet is projected on a huge white screen. Looking back I’m glad a kept a steady pace.

I’m escorted to the second row to a chair with a piece of paper with my name on it. The presenter starts speaking in French accompanied by dramatic hand and arm movements. Alongside the stage there is a row of photographers that start flashing away the moment one of the winners well up or sheds a tear.

The Film Festival in Cannes is prestigious and important. But the event itself is rather stiff and formal. The French make a point of not speaking English and the jury is seated in a corner and are not allowed to speak. Too bad that Jake Gyllenhaal and Sienna Miller who are just a few chairs away aren’t allowed to say anything. By the looks of them they tend to agree.

The closing ceremony of the Cannes Film festival is a special experience but it makes me realize that this event is created by camera crews and photographers and that the people are really just ordinary people.

On the way back to the hotel I am still overthinking it all when a man ask me if I want to try his electric skateboard. The most fun moments tend to be off-red-carpet on ordinary sidewalk tiles.

SALUT!