Cannes Film Festival

Cannes Film Festival

May 17–23, 2027

Pricing: $8,395 per person; For a single room add $2,275

register

For more information, contact ATA at 855-395-6100 or CHQtravels@academic-travel.com

Overview

Since 1946, the Cannes Film Festival has celebrated the art of filmmaking around the globe, becoming one of the most prestigious—and exclusive—annual film events in the world. The Festival has long held a reputation for showcasing a diverse range of independent films and thrusting little-known filmmakers onto the world stage.

Through special accreditation granted to Chautauqua Institution by the Festival, enjoy access to dozens of screenings of some of the most daring, promising, and topical films of the year. Stay at a hotel just a short walk from the Palais des Festivals and enjoy seven days to attend as many screenings as you wish. With your Festival badge, you’ll have access to restricted areas and hear from film professionals about their craft.

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Questions?

Please contact ATA at:
Toll-Free Number: 855-395-6100
CHQtravels@academic-travel.com

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Trip Highlights

  • Take in films from the Official Competition as well as those by up-and-coming filmmakers in the Un Certain Regard competition. Join industry professionals as directors introduce their short films and hear from the creative teams about a newly restored Cannes Classic.
  • Visit the Film Market where the business of film is conducted and enjoy refreshments at the American Pavilion and tour the International Village — only accessible with your Festival badge. 
  • Learn about the inner workings of the festival from your Chautauqua Travels Expert Marta Lamperova, Vice Dean at FAMU (Europe’s top film school) and Artistic Director of Febiofest, Prague International Film Festival. 
  • Gather for a viewing party of the televised festival awards ceremony, including the Palme d’Or. 
  • Through your included membership to the American Pavilion, enjoy the prime beachside location and relax between screenings with a refreshment on the terrace or attend one of the many panels or talks with film industry professionals.

Trip Expert: Marta Lamperova  

Marta Lamperova has attended the Cannes Film Festival for over a decade and has led several student programs. Her background in the world of film provides a unique perspective on the business and its various aspects—from buying and distributing to marketing and production. Marta graduated with a degree in psychology from the Comenius University Bratislava, Slovakia, and a degree in film studies from the University of Fine Arts VMU. She then worked as a production
manager and freelance producer for various production companies in Prague before becoming the managing director of Film Europe in 2008. Marta works as a Vice Dean at FAMU (Film and TV School of Academy of Performing Arts), Europe’s top film school, and as an Artistic Director of Febiofest, Prague International Film Festival.

Trip Host: Laura Savia

Laura Savia is Vice President of Performing and Visual Arts at Chautauqua Institution, where she oversees a wide range of artistic programming. Previously, she spent more than a decade as associate artistic director of the Tony Award-winning Williamstown Theatre Festival. She has produced and directed projects across stage and audio, including award-winning audio theater collaborations, and has worked closely with artists and partners exploring storytelling across mediums. Her background in developing new work, cultivating artists, and advancing inclusive storytelling informs her approach to expanding film and media engagement at Chautauqua.

Laura Savia's headshot

Itinerary

Day 1

Day 2

Day 3

Days 4–5

Day 6

Day 7

Day 1

Arrival in Cannes  

Arrive in Cannes today and transfer independently from the Nice Côte d’Azur airport to the Hôtel Montaigne & Spa, located just a few minutes’ walk from the Vieux Port and beaches. Gather with fellow travelers for a welcome reception at the hotel followed by dinner at a restaurant known for its excellent food and celebrity sightings. You will receive your accreditation badge this evening and can take in a late-night screening if you wish!

Included Meals: Reception, Dinner

Accommodation: Hôtel Montaigne & Spa

Day 2

Bienvenue: An Introduction to the Festival 

After breakfast this morning, your Chautauqua Travels Expert will offer an introduction to the history and organization of the Cannes Film Festival as well as an overview of the schedule and the featured films. Then head to the Palais des Festivals for a walking orientation of the various Festival venues with your Expert. Following the tour, you are free to pursue films of your choice for the rest of the day. The last showing is at midnight!

Included Meal: Breakfast

Accommodation: Hôtel Montaigne & Spa

Day 3

Cannes Film Festival Screenings & An Insider’s Scoop 

Review today’s screenings with your Chautauqua Travels Expert during breakfast, then set out for the Palais des Festivals to watch as many films as you wish throughout the day. Early in the evening, gather for a presentation by a film professional and private reception exclusively for Chautauqua travelers at the American Pavilion. Later, return to the theaters to catch an evening screening.

Included Meals: Breakfast, Reception

Accommodation: Hôtel Montaigne & Spa

Days 4–5

Cannes Film Festival Screenings 

Enjoy two more full days filled with the screenings of your choice, including those from the Cannes Classics, Un Certain Regard categories, or a series of short films. Between screenings, you may choose to attend information sessions with industry professionals or emerging filmmakers at the American Pavilion. There will be an opportunity to attend a presentation on the key directors and their work at the Festival with your Chautauqua Travels Expert.

In your free time, stroll past the elegant Art Deco hotels and haute couture boutiques along La Croisette, or find a prime people-watching spot to grab a coffee or lunch. Take a walk through the narrow lanes of Le Suquet, Cannes’ historic district or, if you wish, take advantage of the spa at the hotel to unwind.

Included Meal: Breakfast

Accommodation: Hôtel Montaigne & Spa

Day 6

The Wrap Party 

During a leisurely last day in Cannes, gather for a final session with your Chautauqua Travels Expert to share your thoughts, experiences, and film critiques. Celebrate your cinematic discoveries this evening at a farewell lunch followed by a viewing party for Le Palmarès, the Festival’s awards ceremony.

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation: Hôtel Montaigne & Spa

Day 7

Au Revoir 

Depart hotel for individual flights home at Nice Côte d’Azur airport. 

Included Meals: Breakfast 

What’s Included?

  • All accommodations for the duration of the tour
  • Meals, as noted in the itinerary
  • All sightseeing and visits as noted in the itinerary
  • Expertise of an expert and travel director throughout the tour
  • All gratuities for on-tour guides, drivers, hotel, and restaurant staff as part of the group program
  • The assistance of an ATA professional travel team to assist with pre-trip questions, travel arrangements, including flights, extra hotel nights and other services
  • Comprehensive pre-departure mailings and materials with information about the destination and what to expect on tour, including a suggested reading list
  • Emergency evacuation insurance
  • Festival badge which grants access to screenings and the American Pavilion

Accommodations

Hôtel Montaigne & Spa
The Hôtel Montaigne & Spa is stylish, comfortable, and is well-situated in a quiet location off a major boulevard, a 7-minute walk from the heart of Cannes—including the seaside boulevard of La Croisette, the Palais des Festivals, the restaurant-and shop-studded Rue d’Antibes, and the old port and historic district of Le Suquet. The property features a lobby bar, outdoor patio, and breakfast room. The modest-sized rooms are bright and feature modern décor, with hairdryers, safes, and bathrooms of varying size. Views from the rooms are of the small street or overlooking the hotel’s sunny interior courtyard. Service is friendly and accommodating, eager to welcome guests during the excitement of the Festival! (6 nights)

Is This Program Right for You? Important Details to Consider Before Booking

Before registering for this program, please note that the Cannes Film Festival program offers a unique approach to our other Chautauqua Travels tours. This is a largely independent experience, giving you the ability to explore the exclusive Cannes Film Festival at your own pace, while benefiting from on-site staff available throughout your stay to provide logistical support and guidance.

The Cannes Film Festival operates on a dynamic timeline that evolves slightly every year without notice. Prior to departure, our team will handle your Festival registration in early spring. The full Festival schedule is typically published closer to May, and access to reserve individual screenings becomes available only shortly before the event begins. As a result, most planning takes place once you are on site, and participants should expect some degree of uncertainty leading up to the program.

This program is best suited to travelers who love film and are comfortable approaching the experience with independence and flexibility, including making day-to-day plans (with the assistance of on-site staff) in a fast-moving environment.

Activity Level

This program involves a significant amount of walking, as transportation between venues is limited. The hotel is approximately a 10-minute walk from the Palais des Festivals, with additional walking required between venues. Participants should be able to walk 2–3 miles unassisted and stand in lines for extended periods.