Hi all! Today is 20^th of September, and it is a prominent date for the history of the world cinematography. More than 60 years ago, on September 20^th, 1946, the first Cannes Film Festival was opened. How was this beginning, what were the reasons for its organizing, what is Palme d’Or and what’s this have to do with Hitler? All of this and more you can find out below.

Today the Cannes International Film Festival is considered to be one of the most prestigious film fests in the world. New films from around the world are presented here. Brilliant actors and actresses, celebrities (among them are famous Russian ladies), outstanding talents annually appear on the red carpet. One of the most high-profiled events, the Cannes International Film Festival wasn’t the first of. The world’s first annual international film festival was believed to take part at Venice in 1932. However, the thirties are known to be the beginning of the Nazi period in Europe. Such Fascist leaders as Adolph Hitler and Benito Mussolini have chosen the fascist-like films and nominated the winners. After several years, the Venice Film Festival had fallen under the influence of the Nazi. France decided to establish a new international independent film festival.  Jean Zay, Minister for Education and Fine Arts, was to initiate the fest as an alternative. A question of place was raised. Today one can know only one city whose name is associated with cinema. It’s about the resort of Cannes on the Mediterranean coast which agreed to host this event of the late 40s.

The first Cannes Film Festival was held in 1946, from 20 September to 5 October. Firstly the fest had to be opened on September 1^st, 1939. However, this day is known as the black date of the world history; Hitler invaded Poland and thus the Second World War began. The fest was called off. Only after the War’s end, the Cannes Film Festival was remembered again as a mean of attracting tourists to Nice. The nominated film list included Rome, Open City by Roberto Rossellini (Italy), Brief Encounter by David Lean (Britain), René Clement’s The Battle of the Rails (France), Velikiy perelom (The Turning Point in Russian) by Fridrikh Ermler (Soviet Union) and other films. Yes, the only fans remember today these names, but can we see The Great Gatsby without them?

The special Cannes prize, Palme d’Or, appeared in 1955. It was designed by Lucienne Lazon, the jeweler, and was created in a form of palm as a symbol either of Promenade de la Croisette or the Cannes’ coat of arms.