‘Six hours’: Truth about exclusive Cannes event

It’s one of the most glamorous parts of the Cannes Film Festival, but the reality on the ground is quite different.

IN CANNES

When you think of Cannes, the iconic red-carpeted staircase of the Grand Théâtre Lumière, awash with stars at a gala premiere, is likely to be the first image that comes to mind.

It’s the jewel in the crown of the annual film festival, and the site of some of Hollywood’s most famous film debuts.

So it’s hardly surprising that tickets to the gala premieres, held each evening, are the hottest ones in town.

This year, it’s Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, Eddington, The Phoenician Scheme and Die, My Love among the big titles being unveiled at Cannes.

Robert Pattinson and Jennifer Lawrence pose at the premiere of their new film, Die, My Love, at Cannes Film Festival. Picture: Scott A Garfitt/Invision/AP

Accredited festival-goers – which include those working in the film industry, press and a handful of lucky cinephiles – are given the opportunity to secure free tickets when they’re released on the official website four days in advance.

But access is staggered, and if all else fails, those keen to attend are left with trying their luck in the last-minute queue.

Some find success, with people dropping out at the last minute, but either way, it’s a gamble that can see them loitering in the queue outside the theatre for up to six hours – dressed in black tie, adhering to the strict dress code on the off-chance they actually score access.

The cast of Eddington at their premiere – tickets for this event saw people lining up for more than six hours. Picture: Sebastien Nogier/Pool/Getty Images

For film students Mya, 23, and Maria, 20, who travelled from Czechia to be at the festival and found themselves at the front of the line for the gala premiere Bono: Stories of Surrender, they told news.com.au they were willing to do whatever it takes to get inside.

“It’s the exclusivity, and also a reason to get dressed up … even though you’re going to just sit on the ground for hours [beforehand],” Maria said.

“Our accreditation priority is super low so we get all the screenings much later, and there’s usually barely anything left. So we’re always fighting to get in.”

Members of the public crowd the area outside the main theatre to catch a glimpse of the stars arriving. Picture: Supplied/Bronte Coy

Meanwhile, 20-year-old Sofia, who travelled from Florida with a cinephile accreditation, told me the next day that she’d had mixed luck with the last-minute queue.
“I tried Eddington, but it didn’t work … we were here from 1pm until 7pm, and didn’t get in,” she said.

“But I did manage to get into Bono.”

With a handful of days still to go of the festival, several films have emerged as contenders to win the prestigious Palme d’Or award, which is the highest prize given to the director of the Best Feature Film of the Official Competition.

Sound of Falling, Two Prosecutors, Sirat, The Secret Agent and Nouvelle Vague have earned rave reviews, while there was a warm response to Eddington, starring Joaquin Phoenix and Pedro Pascal, and the Jennifer Lawrence and Robert Pattinson-led Die, My Love.