Cannes Film Festival

The Cannes Film Festival (; French: Festival de Cannes, [fɛstival də kan]), until 2003 called the International Film Festival (Festival international du film), is an annual film festival held in Cannes, France, which previews new films of all genres, including documentaries, from all around the world. Founded in 1946, the invitation-only festival is held annually (usually in May) at the Palais des Festivals et des Congrès. The festival was formally accredited by the FIAPF in 1951. Cannes is one of the "Big Three" major European film festivals, alongside Venice and Berlin, as well as one of the "Big Five" major international film festivals, alongside Venice, Berlin, Toronto and Sundance. Despite the festival's popularity over critically-acclaimed films and Academy Award considerations, its reputation gained notoriety for introducing transgressive films—most notably each films behind New French Extremity as well as films of Michael Haneke and Lars von Trier—generated harsh criticism and controversy, extensive theatrical screening, lack of diversity, protests and various scandals continued over the years to be one of the most polarizing.

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