Cannes Film Festival 2017 kicks off today

This year, the annual Cannes Film Festival will take place between 17 and 28 May 2017. This year’s event marks the 70th instalment of the invitation-only event. The film festival was instituted in  1946 and is held at the Palais des Festivals et des Congres. It screens new movies which are not yet released for the public from around the world.

 

The line-up for this year’s Festival include

 

1. Competition

Under this category, nineteen feature films will be competing for the highest award of the Festival – Palme d’Or for the best movie. The award was first introduced in 1955 and replaced the previous Grand Prix du Festival International du Film.

 

2. Un Certain Regard

A phrase that translates to “Another point of view”. It is reserved for movies told from the non-traditional perspective and. The category was introduced in 1978. This year, eighteen selected films will be vying for the honour and the winner will be announced on 27 May.

 

3. Non-competitive Honorary Palme d’Or

Since 2002, the Festival has sometimes given out a non-competitive Honorary Palme d’Or to directors (and, very occasionally, actors) who have never won a competitive Palme d’Or but have achieved a notable body of work.

 

You might also like nominations for Africa Movies Academy Award 2017

 

4. Special screenings

Sixteen films in total are selected for this category

 

5. Midnight screenings

 

Three movies including  are selected for this category

 

6. Short films

Nine films made the cut and the winner of the Short Film Palme d’Or will be announced on 28 May.

 

7. Cinefondation

For films made by students at film schools. There are 16 selections for this category. Winner to be announced on 26 May

 

8. Cinéma de la Plage

Movies in this category are screened every night and are open to the public.

 

To see the full list of the movies screening at the Festival, please click here.