Grainne Humphreys: Cannes Festival Highlights

Virgin Media Dublin International Film Festival Director Grainne Humphreys is in Cannes, updating us on her adventures.

Grainne: I’ve been coming to Cannes since the mid-1990s. And what can I say? I think it's the best film festival in the world. I absolutely love it. This year is the 75th Annual Festival and as usual, it is teeming with films, stars, industry professionals, directors, red carpets and stunning views of the Riviera. Cannes Je t’aime..

At the moment, I’m back on the Croisette watching five and six films a day as part of the selection process for the 2023 festival.

Yes, the work has already started for next year's festival.

I'm enjoying the sound of French film critics arguing on their way to the 8.30 am screening and the discussions about the merits of the Competition films which run late into the night.

For me, here are some of the standout films so far:

Coupez (France)

Coupez is quite simply the perfect opening film.

Michel Hazanvicus (The Artist) serves up a hugely enjoyable meta-comedy about filmmaking

Father and Soldier

Intouchables star Omar Sy delivers a powerful performance in a war drama about Senegalese soldiers during WW1

Paris Memories

Alice Winocour’s new film explores the trauma of a woman who survives a terrorist attack in Paris

Forever Young

Directed by one of my favourite actresses, Valerie Bruno Tedeschi has made a wonderful film about becoming an actor. It's passionate and funny and features a potential Best Actress winner in its lead actress Nadia Tereszkiewicz