The history of Cannes Film Festival starts in 1939
Although most people believe that the Cannes International Film Festival was founded in 1946, its roots actually go back to 1939. The plan was to hold the very first festival in the same year, but world history would have it differently.
A short debut – only one movie was shown
The festival was scheduled to start on September 1, 1939, but on the same day Germany invaded Poland, leading to the outbreak of World War II. The festival was initially postponed for ten days, but when war officially broke out on September 3, it was canceled. Only one film was screened: The Hunchback of Notre Dame by American director William Dieterle. It wasn’t until 1946 that the festival resumed and went ahead as planned.
A showdown with propaganda in the world of film
The idea for a French film festival came from the then French Minister of Education, Jean Zay, who wanted to create an independent festival free from political influence. The background was dissatisfaction with the Venice Film Festival, which in 1938 had become a tool for fascist and Nazi propaganda under Mussolini and Hitler. At the time, awards were given to propaganda films, prompting France to initiate a more neutral festival – and this was the starting point for the Cannes Film Festival.
Today – a world-renowned film festival
It wasn’t until 1946 that the Cannes Film Festival was born and since then it has been one of the world’s most prestigious film festivals. In 2025, the festival celebrates its 78th anniversary and will be held from May 13 to 24.
The Palme d’Or is born in 1955
The iconic golden palms, the Palme d’Or, have not always been the symbol of the highest honor at the Cannes Film Festival. In the early years of the festival, selected films were instead awarded the title Grand Prix du Festival – a recognition of the creative processes behind the films, rather than an actual competition as we know it today.
The road to the Palme d’Or
However, the Cannes Film Festival had its challenges in the early years. In both 1948 and 1950, the festival had to be canceled due to financial problems. It wasn’t until 1952 that the festival was given a permanent home in the Palais des Festivals, and in 1955 the Palme d’Or was introducedas the official award for best film – a symbol that is now recognized worldwide.
The world’s most prestigious film festival
As early as the 1950s, Cannes cemented its status as the world’s most prestigious film festival – a position it still holds today. Today, the festival attracts over 30,000 visitors during its 11-day run. A significant development since the very first festival in 1946, when only around 300 people attended.
Link to the festival website: Cannes International Film Festival
By Tommy Sverre – updated 2025
