September 29, 2008
Before awards season, there are the festivals: a chance for Hollywood to show off its finest, and for the movie-making elite to attend some of the most sumptuous parties of the year. Here’s how to see the films, and the stars, at five preeminent festivals around the globe.
Whether you’re a film buff, a glamour buff or a little bit of both, there’s no denying the appeal of attending one of the most prestigious film festivals in the world. It’s a chance to mingle with the buzz-makers and get a first peek at the films people will be talking about all year.
Film festivals rightly revolve around the films themselves, but of course there are side attractions, like the stargazing, the exclusivity and that palpable party environment. Money alone doesn’t guarantee entry into the most renowned festivals, but if you want to get in on the excitement, the only thing holding you back is the right information. Here’s how to attend the five top film festivals in the world, or at the very least, get close to the action.
Next: Berlin International
For two weeks every February, film professionals and cinéphiles crowd the streets of Germany’s capital city for the film festival that boasts the largest public audience in the world. The 2009 festival kicks off Feb. 5.
Who goes: Half of Europe apparently, and art-loving film fans the world over
Getting in: The festival, also known as the Berlinale, sells approximately 200,000 tickets to the nearly 400 films it screens, and tickets are relatively easy to obtain through the festival’s official website. The Potsdamer Platz, a downtown square, serves as the festival’s epicenter, and the main ticket booth is located in the Potsdamer Platz Arkaden, a three-story mall in the square.
The Berlinale typically publishes its film schedule—known as the Berlinale Programme—about a week before the festival begins. Shortly thereafter, you can go to the website to purchase tickets and create a personal daily itinerary using the “My Berlinale” functionality. If you’d rather purchase tickets in person, ticket counters in Berlin usually open about two days before the festival begins.
Off the red carpet: Try to catch at least one Berlinale Keynote lecture, which typically features film industry leaders discussing issues like the future of film and current industry challenges. Be sure to fit in one of the popular “Culinary Cinema—Eat, Drink, See Movies” events. Each features a screening of a culinary-themed film followed by a meal inspired by the flick and created by a top German chef.
Plan of attack: Plan on dedicating one or two days to the festival. Tying it into a larger European trip is a good strategy. You don’t have to be über-hip to enjoy Berlin, but being an art lover helps since the city is filled with galleries. It’s also notable for remaining relatively affordable even in the wake of a high-flying Euro.
Book a room at the Regent, and you may bump into Brad and Angelina or Tom and Katie, who have all stayed there in recent years. The Hotel Adlon has been a celebrity favorite for years, while the Hotel de Rome, opened in 2006, is quickly developing a star clientele. The new Ritz-Carlton, conveniently located at the festival’s epicenter, is another easy pick.
Try dinner at Borchardt Restaurant, a perennial celebrity favorite, followed by drinks at the chic Newton Bar, which pays homage to famed fashion photographer Helmut Newton.
Next: Cannes
Every May, the most elite Hollywood players flock to the city of Cannes along the French Riviera to screen their latest and attend some of the industry’s most exclusive—and decadent—parties. The next festival begins May 13, 2009.
Who goes: The crème de la crème of Hollywood and international filmmaking, as well as sun-loving film buffs who aren’t afraid to get a little sand on their Christian Louboutins
Getting in: Officially, the Cannes Film Festival is exclusively reserved for film industry professionals or members of the press assigned to cover it. If you aren’t a producer or director type, look into the Cannes Cinéphiles program, which allocates a small number of limited-access passes to film education groups and film enthusiasts. Cinéphiles accreditation won’t give you access to the Palais des Festival, Riviera complex or International Village (the best places to see and be seen), but it will allow you to queue for tickets to the official screenings.
If all else fails, and you’re a real film buff, you could start blogging about the industry. Several film bloggers gained credentials this past year, so with a little dedication, it is possible—if unlikely—to be accredited through this channel.
Beyond these limited categories, there is no public access to Cannes, so you won’t find festival passes or tickets for sale, regardless of what you’re willing to pay.
Off the red carpet: Short of being personally invited by a Hollywood insider—or arriving on the arm of a director, producer or actor—you won’t be attending the announcement of the Palme d’Or. That said, it’s easy to enjoy both the city and the festival with no pass at all.
For instance, catch a flick at the Cinéma de la Plage, a lovely open-air film screen situated on the beach at Plage Mace. Out-of-competition films and classic movies are screened there throughout the festival. If free tickets are required for a screening, they are typically available through the Cannes Tourist Office.
Plan of attack: Spend at least three days in Cannes, even if you haven’t been able to get into a screening. Take a stroll along the Boulevard de la Croisette; it’s the epicenter of the film festival action, so be sure to spend plenty of time on the famed street soaking up the atmosphere.
If star spotting is on the agenda, consider booking a room at one of the most popular hotels for festivalgoers, such as the Carlton, Majestic Barriere, Hotel Martinez or Noga Hilton; all occupy prime real estate along the Croisette. Shopping along the boulevard, where you’ll find boutiques including Hermes, Chanel and Dior, can also prove fruitful for star sightings.
Next: Sundance
The beauty of the Sundance Film Festival is that it’s not only exceptionally prestigious, but it welcomes members of the public to mingle with the glitterati as they invade Park City, Utah for 10 days every January. The next festival kicks off Jan. 16, 2009.
Who goes: Ugg-wearing moviemakers and their fans—especially those who love to ski
Getting in: The festival has gotten so popular that getting tickets can require a bit of patience. The first step is to register on the Sundance website as soon as possible. For the 2009 festival, registration started on Sept. 23 and will end on Oct. 10. Then, on Oct. 17, you’ll receive an email indicating whether or not you were randomly selected to receive a half-hour time slot to buy tickets. If so, you’ll be given a link to a page where you can do just that.
There is no “full” festival pass for sale. However, you can see it all if you purchase both a $3,000 Express Pass A, good for the first six days of the festival, and a $2,500 Express Pass B, which covers the last four days. Holding a festival Express Pass means you can walk into public screening venues up to 15 minutes prior to start time. If you’re just looking to attend a few days of the festival, consider the Awards Weekend Pass, good for the final three days.
Not everyone will get access to tickets through this registration process, so if you’re not selected, consider making a sizeable donation to the Sundance Institute in exchange for access. Upper-level donors, who contribute at least $35,000, receive two each of Express Pass A and two Express Pass B, along with an invitation for two to select events. These donors also receive varying degrees of guaranteed access to the festival not available to the general public.
Smaller donations can also give you a leg up. A $5,000 donation will allow you to purchase ticket passes in advance of the public sale, for instance.
Not your style? Head to Sundance in person and purchase same-day tickets at one of the box offices, or head directly to theaters for an attempt at wait-list tickets to sold-out shows.
Off the red carpet: All festival passes allow admission to the Sundance House at the Kimball Art Center—a casual gathering place for festivalgoers to grab coffee, buy a meal or check their email—as well as the Filmmaker Lodge and New Frontier on Main, which host a variety of panel discussions and presentations. A pass also grants daytime admission to the Sundance Music Café.
Plan of attack: Arrange your flight months in advance, because a last-minute flight into Salt Lake City during the festival can be tough to book on commercial airlines, and even private charters see a spike in demand.
If you’re interested in seeing the stars beyond the festival boundaries, consider booking a room at the Stein Erikson Lodge, which not only houses many celebrities during the festivities, but also hosts a handful of the glitziest private parties. Also consider a reservation at the Robert Redford-owned Sundance Resort, located on 6,000 acres of scenic mountain land about 45 minutes from Park City. It always attracts a galaxy of festival stars looking to stay in one of the property’s mountain homes or suites, or simply hit the slopes. Finally, be sure to grab a meal at Zoom on Main Street in Park Slope—this Redford-owned restaurant is a must-do for many celebrity festival attendees.
The Sundance Institute recently introduced its own reservation service, Destination: Sundance Festival. Local travel agents help you plan your visit, and exclusive packages offer a sampling of popular Park City diversions, lodging and dining, along with tickets to private events and screenings. Check the website for more information, or call (877) 733-7829.
Next: Toronto International
Considered one of the most important film festivals for generating Oscar buzz, Toronto turns into the Hollywood of the north for 10 days each September.
Who goes: Serious Oscar contenders and fans who enjoy a low-key version of Hollywood
Getting in: All films in the festival receive public screenings in addition to industry screenings, which are reserved for the press and industry delegates. Many public screenings feature a Q&A with the director or stars of the film.
Ticket packages based on film preferences go on sale in July and are available through the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) website or at the TIFF box office on the main floor of the Manulife building in downtown Toronto. Opt for the $325 Gala Package (it always sells out) to get into the eight hottest screenings of the festival. Individual tickets start at around $20.
Off the red carpet: The festival features two popular events open to the public. “Dialogues: Talking with Pictures” is a popular series of films curated and introduced by prominent directors or film artists. “Mavericks” features talks from well-known Hollywood personalities who typically discuss how their careers took shape and preview their next projects. Recent participants include Bill Maher and Ivan Reitman.
Plan of attack: Depending on your film package, you could go for a three-day stay or enjoy the entire festival. No matter how long you’re in town, immerse yourself by staying in the heart of the action. The Four Seasons, Windsor Arms and Sutton Place hotels attract tradition-minded stars, while the more modern SoHo Metropolitan Hotel and the Drake attract an edgier crowd.
Celebrity-frequented restaurants typically include One, Bymark, North 44, Sotto Sotto and Joso’s. Stylish stars may also pop into shops like Holt Renfrew and George C., while cigar lovers like Sean Penn may head to Thomas Hinds Tobacconist to sample its impressive array of Cubans.
Next: Tribeca
Robert DeNiro co-founded the Tribeca Film Festival in 2001 to revitalize lower Manhattan after the World Trade Center attacks. It takes place from late April through early May, and welcomes the public to view more than 200 films, including many world premieres. The 2009 festival will be held from April 22 through May 3.
Who goes: A melting pot of independent filmmakers and L.A.-types with a bicoastal connection
Getting in: The easiest way to access the entire festival is by purchasing what’s called a Hudson Pass. This pass, which sold for $1,100 in 2008, secures access to all regular and premium screenings and panel discussions, entry into festival lounges and admission to the gala premiere event. The passes typically go on sale in late February on the Tribeca Film Festival website.
If the Hudson Pass is more than you need, choose one of the less expensive packages. They’re grouped by interest (competition film package, foreign film fan package and documentary film fan package, for instance), and prices average around $75 per person per package.
Another great way to get additional access to the festival is through American Express, a founding supporter of the event. Cardmembers can purchase ticket packages and individual tickets almost a week before the general public.
Off the red carpet: The credit card company also sponsors the American Express Insider Center, which gives cardholders exclusive access to roundtable discussions with directors and actors, as well as special short film screenings.
Plan of attack: With the variety of packages, it’s easy to spend a long weekend—or more than a week—in the Big Apple. Trendier out-of-town celebrities without a New York pad of their own typically favor hip downtown hotels like the Tribeca Grand, Soho Grand or Mercer Hotel, while traditionalists often head for the Ritz-Carlton (either on Central Park or Battery Park) or the Peninsula New York. Star-friendly Tribeca eateries include Mai House, the latest restaurant in the Nobu empire, Bouley and Chanterelle.