🎬 My 10 Days at the Cannes Film Festival 🌟
By Athénaïs Host
In May 2025, I had the chance to live a dream: attending the Cannes Film Festival not just as a spectator, but as an accredited young critic with the Ecumenical Jury. Over 10 intense and magical days, I watched 32 films, wrote 9 published reviews, walked the red carpet, and found myself surrounded by the beating heart of global cinema.
🌍 How I Got There
I applied for accreditation through the Cannes Festival website and also with the Ecumenical Jury by sending a motivation letter, proof of enrollment at my college, and a 24€ fee. To my surprise and excitement, I was accepted and received a 10-day pass giving me access to the entire festival — including red carpet premieres, press screenings, and exclusive film discussions.
✍ My Role
I had the honour of writing film reviews for the Ecumenical Jury website, covering some of the most powerful and moving films showcased this year. You can find all my articles here: 👉 Read my articles on the Ecumenical Jury site
📽 What I Watched
I immersed myself in cinema — averaging 3 films per day, sometimes even 4! From activist documentaries to visionary debuts, every film told a story that mattered. Here’s the full list of films I saw:
Full List of 32 Films (See expandable/collapsible list or visual gallery format with film posters if you want it for your blog)
🌟 People I Saw
I attended a few premieres and crossed paths with legends: * Tom Cruise * Luc & Jean-Pierre Dardenne * Emma Watson * Julien Assange * Camélia Jordana * Cast from “Woman and Child”, “Romaria”, “Jeunes mères”, “Sound of Falling” …and many more.
🧠 A Festival That Teaches Endurance
It’s not all glam. Days started at 7am with the fight for tickets (you book films 4 days in advance and they go fast — there are 35,000 accredited people!). Some screenings ended as late as 2am. If you skip a film you booked, you risk a 24h ban from the system. I learned resilience, time management, and how to function on minimal sleep — all for the love of cinema.
📸 The Highlights in Photos
📝 Articles for Ecumenical Jury
Here are a few of my favorite reviews I wrote, translated into English. Each one captures not just the film, but how it made me feel, and why it matters.