Cannes Reawakens, Pins Hopes On Film Festival’s Return

The lights are in position, the stars en route to the French Riviera. And Spike Lee’s face is peering out onto the Croisette from a huge banner announcing Tuesday’s debut of the world’s premier film festival.

The show is running 14 months late, due to the pandemic. And it’s about time for the city’s merchants, hoteliers and restaurateurs, who hope the return of the festival’s glamour and revenues heralds a broader renaissance for the region and France’s cultural world after an exceptionally damaging year.

“We lost all of the international conventions, congress, large events like the film festival. So we lost millions,” Charles Richez, director of the Majestic Hotel, said. “We’re very happy now to have the film festival again. It’s the beginning of the return of all the international events.”