A brief history of Cannes

Seven decades of the world's most glamorous film festival

By Charlotte Lytton and James Jackson

1940s

After an abandoned attempt to launch the festival in 1939 (the Second World War broke out the day after opening night), the event is first staged in full in 1946 – where David Lean’s Brief Encounter is the first British winner of the top prize

1950s

The festival becomes the place to do film deals, while its international fame grows thanks to the presence of such golden-era stars as Grace Kelly, Sophia Loren and Cary Grant – not to mention the sex appeal of a bikini-clad Brigitte Bardot on the beach in 1953. Jean Cocteau designs a palm leaf motif that will become the legendary Palme d’Or

Swipe or click across to see all images

1960s

The Festival has hit its stride. The first female jury president Olivia de Havilland is appointed in 1965, followed by Sophia Loren the next year. Famously, though, the festival is cancelled halfway through in 1968, in solidarity with student protests across France. In 1969, Quinzaine des Realisateursm, the cooler, and more edgy directors’ fortnight, is launched

1970s

The rise of "New Hollywood", with such maverick directors as Francis Ford Coppola, Martin Scorsese and Robert Altman, comes to dominate Cannes through the decade. Apocalypse Now even clinches the Palme d’Or in 1979, despite being unfinished. Meanwhile, in 1976 the boundary-pushing In the Realm of Senses has them queuing round the block, setting a tradition for scandalous sex or violence films making headlines at Cannes

1980s

Outgrowing its home in the Palais Croisette, the festival moves to the new Palais des Festivals et des Congres in 1983 – stars past and present leave their handprints in clay outside. In 1986, a PR stunt (more memorable than the film) sees a galleon sails into the harbour to promote Pirates. Steven Soderbergh’s Sex, Lies and Videotape wins the Palme d’Or in 1989

1990s

The indie theme set by Soderbergh in 1989 continues, but festival history is really made when Jane Campion becomes the first female director to win the Palme d’Or, for The Piano. Stars turn out in force for the festival’s 50th anniversary in 1997

2000s

The festival loses its lengthy title to becoming known simply as the Festival de Cannes as it becomes bigger than ever, with some 65,000 people congregating to celebrate film. Palme d’Or winners continue to go to arthouse favourites, such as Ken Loach (The Wind That Shakes the Barley) and Michael Haneke (The White Ribbon)

2010-present

Each year more than 1,500 films from more than 100 countries are submitted for what is now one of the most fevered media events on the planet, with Hollywood A-listers, obscure arthouse directors, journalists and fans making the annual migration for 12 party-packed days on the Riviera