If you did not pack high heels or the correct type of tuxedo (bowties only, no regular ties), then 2015 film festival was “No Cannes Do For You.”
From secret screenings to jam-packed appearances by Hollywood royalty and British royalty, Here’s The Party Report’s tour through the best parties at the Cannes Film Festival.
What’s the best way to keep an advance screening of a hot Jake Gyllenhaal movie leak-proof and crasher free? Screen it at sea.
The Weinsteins revealed “Southpaw,” which is already an early Oscar contender, on a yacht Friday night. VIPs like Adrien Brody, who The Party Report last spotted at the Mayweather-Pacquiao fight in Vegas, Michelle Rodriguez, models Adriana Lima and Jourdan Dunn.
“I love this film,” festival director Thierry Fremaux told the crowd. Gyllenhaal was actually the fest’s jury, creating a conflict of interest for a festival slot.
Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara’s performances were not the only popular thing about “Carol.” Their party at Baoli Beach for Todd Haynes’ love story drew strong.
The transformation from restaurant to Riviera chic lounge had more crashers out front trying to get in than any other night.
A few nights later in the same place, “Sicario” (hitman) was the name on everyone’s hit list.
It felt a bit more Mexican Riviera than French Riviera at the same spot. Fajitas and chili con carne by the sea refueled the “Sicario” crowd, importing the flavor of the Mexican drug cartel film.
Emily Blunt channeled Mexico by ditching her heels and going barefoot, before a handler got her some sandals.
Josh Brolin was also on the move, emerging from the VIP to mingle, escaping the french security guards around Cannes that Chris Ryan once noted all look like Bond villains.
The through line at these high end bashes was Le Grand Fizz, a souped up summer recipe of Grey Goose’s awards season cocktail program as they hosted several of the top film parties.
It’s France. They have the French flag right there on the bottle. This should not be surprising.
The parties came in all sizes, from intimate restaurant bashes like IMDB’s and Savannah College of Art and Design’s “Ovation for Oscar” to the luxury line bashes.
Global soccer star Didier Drogba made the scene in Cannes, typifying the international, cross-industry celebrity stew at the festival. This was just days before his teammates would carry him off the field in his final game for Chelsea back in England on Sunday, May 24.
Two big bashes went head-to-head as Emily Blunt, Rachel Weisz and Sienna Miller were amongst honorees at Calvin Klein’s celebration of women in film.
Haim, who have been everywhere in the last month from radio station pop concerts in Carson to the Calvin Klein villa, played at the bashas
Others took boats out to Paul Allen’s “Bollywood” themed party on his yacht, Octopus.
The Bond villain clones there would have smashed any overt amateur photography of guests Leonardo DiCaprio, frequent sailor Adriana Lima, Cannes jury foreman Ethan Coen, John C. Reilly or Amy Poehler, but they could not stop Instagram.
The last of the big bashes was amfAR at the Hotel du Cap, raising $30 million dollars as 40 super models walked to the live sounds of Mark Ronson and DiCaprio’s own Banksy artwork got auctioned off 30 minutes away from the plebes on the Croisette.
It is the kind of crowd that makes Oscar caliber movie stars poor by comparison.
Richie Akiva’s after party in a villa has the crowd ushering the sun back in to the sky one more time in France before heading off to Monaco or retreating back to the U.S. to recover over the long weekend.