Cannes You Believe It?
From the Red Carpet to Maccies in a Tux: My Surreal Cannes Experience
In the world of filmmaking, there are certain moments that feel like something straight out of a movie — experiences so surreal, they blur the line between dream and reality. One of those moments for me was the time Daniel J. Harris from Focus Shift Films and I decided to go to the Cannes Film Festival... just because we could.
At the time, I was working as a camera assistant, and while I only knew a handful of people heading out there, the allure of Cannes was undeniable. The thought of casually bumping into old colleagues and seeing their reactions to me being there was too tempting to pass up. If nothing else, it would be impressive just to be seen catching up with familiar faces against the backdrop of the world's most prestigious film festival.
The journey began with a bit of sheer audacity. Dan and I managed to blag ourselves free tuxedos simply by asking. Slaters generously provided us both with sharp suits in return for some social media content while we were out there — proof that if you don't ask, you don't get. Armed with our tuxedos, we booked a budget EasyJet flight to the South of France and found ourselves an affordable apartment a short train ride away from the festival. Each day, we'd travel along the sunlit French Riviera into the heart of Cannes, pinching ourselves that we were actually there.
Walking the red carpet at Cannes is something that very few people get to experience in their lives — and somehow, I managed to do it three times. The first was for the Brazilian film Bacurau, which ended up being my favourite film of the festival. The film was incredible, and the night ended in typically surreal fashion when I nearly got into the wrong taxi with one of the Brazilian cast members. Drunk, of course, I ended up sharing a warm embrace with him, praising his performance as we both stumbled off into the night.
The second red carpet was for Nicholas Winding Refn's series Too Old to Die Young. It was an entertaining, stylish affair — exactly what you'd expect from Refn — and walking that carpet felt like stepping into another world entirely.
The final red carpet was for the Korean action thriller The Gangster, The Cop, The Devil. The film itself was gripping, but what made the night even more memorable was the Asian journalist sitting next to me... who proceeded to sleep through the entire screening. To this day, I have no idea how anyone could sleep through such a relentless film, but it added another layer of absurdity to the whole experience.
Cannes isn't just about the premieres — it's also about the parties and the networking. One standout night was the Raindance Villa Party. Dan and I found ourselves in a taxi winding up the mountains to an incredible villa, complete with a pool and free-flowing drinks. I found myself chatting to distribution and sales people from the Marche du Film — people I had no business talking to at that stage of my career. But that's the magic of Cannes — everyone is there to meet everyone, no matter what rung of the ladder you're on.
The true icing on the cake was catching a fleeting glimpse of Leonardo DiCaprio arriving for the premiere of Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. But even that didn't top the strangest encounter of the trip — a bizarre late-night run-in at the notorious McDonald's opposite the Palais.
Dan was keen on grabbing food before heading home, and after he'd been sorted, I reluctantly joined the queue. In front of me stood a young man in a tuxedo, with an older, taller man talking his ear off. At one point, the young man turned to me, almost seeking refuge from the endless conversation. It was only halfway through our brief chat that it dawned on me — I was talking to none other than Fionn Whitehead. As he collected his late-night snack, I leaned in and whispered, "By the way... am I right in saying... Dunkirk, Bandersnatch?" He simply smiled, nodded, and disappeared into the night with his McDonald's in hand — another surreal chapter in an already dreamlike trip.
Looking back, the whole experience feels like a fever dream. What started as a wild idea ended up becoming one of the most unforgettable adventures of my life. Cannes has a way of making you feel like you're part of something bigger — even if you're just blagging your way in, making connections, and soaking up every moment. It was a reminder that sometimes, all you need is a bit of confidence, a good tuxedo, and the willingness to throw yourself into the unknown.
And who knows? Maybe one day I'll be back at Cannes — but next time, with a film of my own on the big screen.
