Cannes Parties: 11 Hottest Invites at the Festival

Cannes 2014: TheWrap’s handpicked selection of invites your clients, boss, friends (and frenemies) at the festival are chasing. These are the events Hollywood is talking about on the ground in France

There’s a list of parties kilometers long of every rinky-dink film looking for global distribution, money, or some form of attention in Cannes, but after the sun sets (and it gets cold here when that happens), these are the invites generating the most buzz.

Similar to Sundance’s famed party list created by Christopher Ryan, Filmtrack’s Andrew Goldstein has been curating a constantly updating grid several pages long. There is no animosity between the two scene-steerers. They are friends.

Also read: Good Morning Cannes: ‘Grace’ Comes Under Fire and Amy Adams Makes it Rain

Get on these lists, or fire your manager, agent, or publicist… but not your party columnist.

Amfar Cinema Against Aids 2014 *Top Invite*
Thurs., May 22

Stephane Cardinale
Adrien Brody and Rosario Dawson at the 2013 event. Photo by Stephane Cardinale.

I’m listing it first, even though it falls last, to give you plenty of time to sell a script or film to finance the donation, or make new friends.

The sequestered grounds at the Hotel du Cap host the jewel in the Cannes party scene crown, the annual amfAR gala “Cinema Against Aids.” Last year, it raised $25 million, in part because of an auction for a trip to space with Leonardo DiCaprio ((sic) not a typo).

The steps of the Palais are one iconic image of the festival. Contributing and participating with this fundraiser’s base, skimmed from the best of the fest, is the other badge of social and philanthropic honor.

The invites are tiered: Cocktails at 6:00 p.m., dinner at 8:00 p.m., and a midnight after party.

See photos: 25 Outtakes From CannesWrap’s Director Photo Shoots (Photos)

Bungalow 8 Pop up with Worldview Entertainment and Weinstein
Fri., Sat., and Sun., Opening Weekend

Weinstein and Worldview Entertainment are doing a lot together: this three night popup and the AmfAR gala.

Amy Sacco again brings her famous nightlife brand to a festival, as she has in Toronto and most recently, late night at Sundance. It runs Friday-Sunday nights late, in a non traditional location.

Because of high interest and low capacity, the exact address has been a well kept secret I’ve been asked not to spoil. Rumor has it: Grandmaster Flash will DJ.

See photos: 21 Must-See Cannes Movies: From ‘Foxcatcher’ to ‘Expendables 3’

“How To Train Your Dragon 2”
Fri. night, May 16

Four weeks to the day before the sequel’s June 13 release, DreamWorks Animation and Fox anchor Friday night with a premiere, and afterwards, cocktails and an art show at Baoili Beach.

After the Oscar nominations and nearly half a billion in worldwide gross on the original, the Jay Baruchel, Gerard Butler, Cate Blanchett, Jonah Hill, and Kristen Wiig starring sequel should be a big draw, and an early repeat awards contender.

Star America Ferrera opens the American Pavilion the next morning.

“Foxcatcher” *High Buzz Alert*
Mon., May 19

Bennet Miller’s drama was supposed to be an awards contender last season, before being pushed in to 2014.

Now, this party has the frothy buzz more often associated with Golden Globes weekend.

Mark Ruffalo is inbound to Cannes, and star Channing Tatum is expected as well. After the Palais premiere, it too will take over Baoli Beach at 10 p.m. for a party in partnership by Stella Artois.  (More on this below)

Art of Elysium’s Paradis
Fri., May 16

That’s not Johnny Depp’s ex, Vanessa. It’s French for “paradise”.

Jennifer Howell’s charity for children battling life threatening illnesses, popular with artists at the top, bottom, and nowhere near a call sheet, hosts a luncheon honoring “Grace of Monaco” actress Paz Vega.

“Mockingjay” aka “The Hunger Games” Party *High Buzz Alert*
Sat., May 17

Mikey Glazer
Mikey Glazer

No they are not showing the movie here at the festival. It’s not due out until Thanksgiving.

It took several reports to confirm that Lionsgate is not even showing the trailer here in Cannes.

But if the size of the investment on the Majestic hotel is any indication (above, looking like a colonial version of “The Capitol”) the odds are in your favor if you make this cut. It’s a tight-listed event in a villa Saturday night.

Relativity’s 10th Anniversary
Sun., May 18

Ryan Kavanaugh and Claudia Eller celebrate Relativity’s 10th birthday with a Sunday brunch/lunch at the du Cap. The scene on opening Sunday of the festival at the hotel alone is worth the road trip.

Belvedere at Le Club by Albane
Fri. night May 16, Top of the JW Marriott

Less house music thump and more Soho House than the neon club offerings nearby (VIP Room, Gotha), the space atop the hotel has recently  been under the guard of Parisian PR royal Albane Cleret (closest Hollywood book of business analog: Slate-PR). It’s an upmarket choice.

Belvedere brings in Rita Ora to perform Friday night to kick off the opening weekend. Even the signs on street level several floors below say “By Guest List Only .”

Vanity Fair
Sat., May 17 at the Hotel du Cap

Graydon Carter and Giorgio Armani host VF’s dinner, with Christina Hendricks and Geoffrey Arend atop the guest list.

 Bold Films and Bootsy Bellows *High Gosling Alert*
Sat., May 17, Cosy Box

Mikey Glazer
Mikey Glazer

Bootsy Bellows owner John Terzian and the h.wood group continue the ESPN model – be everywhere their our audience is.

After popups at Sundance and Super Bowl, and a permanent space in Aspen, they partner with prolific producer Gary Michael Walters and Bold Films to celebrate the Cannes premieres of  writer-director Ryan Gosling’s “Lost River” and “Whiplash” (Miles Teller, J.K. Simmons).

Warning, the place lives up to its name. It is cozy. Very cozy.

On the upside, one could theoretically exit the Palais through the side door and fall down the stairs right in to the line (above, the pink arrow fall line).

Stella Artois World Draught Masters 2014
Sat., May 17 at the Martinez

Films are not the only thing in competition at the festival. In a high-end version of hospitality Olympics, TheWraps’ party partner in Cannes, Stella Artois, is throwing its annual World Draught Masters Competition Finals.

Regional winners from around the world have won the right to compete in pouring glasses to “perfection”, which apparently is a nine-step process that involves “eye contact”, beheading, the two finger rule, and of course, using a branded chalice.

The winner gets to travel the world for a year as a global ambassador.

But Wait, There’s More
Elsewhere, Jim Berk’s Participant Media throws a 10th anniversary bash on a yacht on Sunday . As the festival winds down next weekend, the Monaco Grand Prix drains Cannes of a significant portion of the hair gel, Lamborghini doors on non-Lamborghinis, and black cards.

When in total doubt, always opt for anything Danielle Pelland is doing under her Brilliant Consulting Group banner.  “She owns Cannes,” one veteran film pr insider advises.

TheWrap’s Party Report from Cannes is appropriately presented by a festive partner, Stella Artois, the official beer of the Cannes Film Festival for 13 years. 

Portions of this story first appeared in TheWrap’s special print edition for the festival, CannesWRAP.

Please send updates, additions, and invitations to Mikey Glazer here.

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