The 79th Cannes Film Festival looks like one big party with tons of glamour.
But there are plenty of things that happen behind the scenes in the French town that no one knows about, actress Blanca Blanco told the Daily Mail.
One thing onlookers at home don’t realize is that there is a massive amount of security with armed guards, police on horses and motorcycle cops.
There is also a strict guest list to get into the festival where badges are needed for entrance. Sometimes lines to get into the festival can take 10 hours for commoners; once inside a screening room no popcorn or candy is offered.
And the place is crowded with 40,000 visitors – many are not even in the festival – descending on the small town leaving hotel and restaurants packed to the gills.
There are also different rules for VIPs, like private helicopter rides and roped off areas as well as five-star rooftop dinners and yacht parties.
Here is a look at what exactly goes down behind the scenes of the biggest film festival in the world.
The 79th Cannes Film Festival looks like one big red carpet but there are plenty of things that happen behind the scenes no one knows about. Demi Moore on May 13
One thing onlookers at home don’t realize is there is a massive amount of security
Getting to the Cannes Film Festival is a massive effort in itself.
All guests arriving at the festival must come by car – and never by foot, even if their hotel is across the street – to get onto the red carpet.
That is because a car serves as a place holder for the guest: it is a line and also helps with the timing for the carpet.
Once on the carpet, ID badges must be checked as security is high. Armed guards can be seen everywhere and motorcycle cops going up and down the street at all times.
‘There are men with guns at every turn, the police presence is very much felt,’ Blanco told the Daily Mail.
Then there is the wait for everything.
‘There are the long lines where women in six inch heels and elaborate costumes wait for hours to get inside certain events even though it is super hot and loud,’ said Blanco.
Blanco Blanco – seen this year at the Bitter Christmas screening on May 19, left, and Fatherland on May 14, right – gave the Daily Mail the scoop
Sharon Stone attends an event on May 18. There are hundreds of photographers at the event
All guests arriving at the festival must come by car – and never by foot, even if their hotel is across the street – to get onto the red carpet. Kristen Stewart on May 16
Bella Hadid at the Garance screening on May 17; her handler needed a badge to get her in
Also the red carpet is not slow, but rather a fast photo shoot as stars have less than a minute to pose for the cameras before they are moved along.
‘You can’t pause on the carpet and talk to people, you have to pose and then move on, it’s like clockwork. Attendants are there to make sure you don’t lollygag,’ said Blanco who walked the carpet for three events so far during the festival this year.
Cell phones are not allowed on the carpet so there are no selfies or sneaky shots being taken.
‘Want to take a selfie with a friend? Forget it, not possible, but that is a good thing, actually, so guests can focus,’ added the actress.
Also, once inside the theater, there are no snacks like buttery popcorn, sodas, pretzels or candy available. Often people go hungry during the film after they spent hours trying to get into the venue.
‘The first time I went to the Cannes Film festival I was expecting popcorn with butter and a Coke, but nope, it is simply not available, you have to eat before you go,’ Blanco added.
‘Food is not available because it would be too messy and take too much time to clean up afterwards. So it might be for the best.’
After the film is over, people are taken to the after parties which is a whole new level of security and lines.
There are parties all along the Croisette and it is noisy as well as crowded.
‘You can’t pause on the carpet and talk to people, you have to pose and then move on, it’s like clockwork,’ said Blanco. Brooks Nader seen on May 19 with guests all around her
There are parties all along the Croisette and it is noisy as well as crowded. Annabelle Wallis on May 19 at the Chopard Miracle Gala Evening
La Croisette is a legendary, palm-lined seaside promenade in Cannes.
‘It’s a hustle to get out of the screening and to the after party, it is chaos and crazy, but worth it, the events are spectacular,’ the actress added.
And the town is packed past capacity. There is so much traffic everywhere because every year, Cannes welcomes around 40,000 festivalgoers.
Then there are the paparazzi that are outside every hotel in town, especially the Majestic, and they are constantly on the lookout for stars.
There are armed guards everywhere; Blanco pretending to be handcuffed
Mounted police water their horses on Placedu General de Gaulle near the 79th Cannes Film Festival on May 16
‘You have to show ID to get into the hotels, you have to prove you are staying there, you can’t just waltz in and have a drink at the bar,’ said Blanco.
‘This becomes difficult when you have hair and makeup people coming by your room to do their job. You have to give your glam team QR codes to get in.’
And there is hired help.
‘The craziest thing I’ve ever seen in my life is that the hotel has a falcon that controls the area and keeps away all the pigeons and seagulls, like a little security guard,’ said the star.
Then there are the thousands of people who are there not for the festival but for the scenery.
‘There are also tons influencers shooting segments outside the hotels or by the red carpet behind them. It’s hard for some to find a spot, they compete to get the best turf, they have to act fast to get a nice spot,’ said Blanco.
Blanco posed in a swimsuit at the Hotel Majestic’s beach patio
A look at the front of the legendary five star hotel
Yachts hover around the coastline. The Orient Express Corinthian Cruising Yacht (Accor Group) in the Bay of Cannes 79th Cannes Film Festival on May 17
Blanco ate breakfast on the Majestic balcony as she looked at the yacht
She outside the Majestic hotel on May 16. Paparazzi were outside 24 hours a day
The ultimate brag is taking a helicopter to the festival: Blanco left and Eva Longoria right
‘It’s weird to see so many people filming themselves, it’s too much, no one knows who these people are or what they are recording, it’s all influencer stuff.’
In every corner, there’s a mini photo shoot happening with gorgeous young women dressed to the nines.
‘Sometimes people are there just for an Instagram moment, they have nothing to do with the festival, and it’s international, people come from all over the world. One lady I met was from South Africa, another from Tokyo,’ added the actress. ‘They just want the photos to impress their friends.’
The very rich take helicopters to Cannes and then are driven to their hotels.
‘That is the ultimate brag, that you took a helicopter, not a car or train, to the festival,’ said Blanco. ‘I was lucky to be able to take a helicopter this year, I was terrified but it was so easy, it took so little time.’
Eva Longoria documented her helicopter tour in a Tuesday Instagram post simply titled ‘South Of France.’
And it’s another brag to say you are staying on a yacht.
‘The yacht thing is insane, there are so many big, incredible ones everywhere and everyone wants to get on them for the parties. People yacht hop all day and night to network or get a free drink.’
The Cannes Film Festival ends on Saturday, May 23.
