Cannes (France): Bigger than Berlin, Venice, London or Toronto, the Cannes Film Festival is the place where some of the world's best films and finest filmmakers were discovered.
Most of us enjoyed Ocean's Eleven and Erin Brockovich but did you know the director of these films Steven Soderbergh hit the big-time after his small, independent film Sex, Lies and Videotape won the top prize at Cannes in 1989.
It's pretty much the same story as far as Quentin Tarantino is concerned.
His debut film Reservoir Dogs got great reviews, but it was after Pulp Fiction took the Palme D'Or in 1994 that Tarantino really became a star director.
Some of the other films that were discovered at Cannes are Truffaut's 400 Blows, Fellini's La Dolce Vita, Robert Altman's MASH, Jane Campion's Piano, Polanski's The Pianist, and one of my personal favourites Lars von Trier's Dancer in the Dark.
Over the years, the Cannes Film Festival has become synonymous with high fashion and glamour.
All the biggest stars show up in designer outfits and walk the red carpet, but real movie lovers complain that the festival has become too commercial.
Think about it, do you remember which film won the Palme D'Or last year? Probably not.
Do you remember what Aishwarya Rai wore on opening night last year? The black gown with the snake-shaped choker. We should be ashamed!
And by the way the film that took the Palme D'Or last year was Ken Loach's film The Wind that Shakes the Barley about the Irish struggle for independence.
With so much happening at the event, it's fair to say that in all these years, Cannes has really emerged as one of the biggest film markets. The sheer number of films being marketed or promoted on the Croisette is simply unique to this festival.
So, there is a lot to do at Cannes if you're not here on a mission. You could tan yourself on one of the many beaches or you could simply star-gaze, but Cannes is essentially about the movies so what you should do if you're there is try to get yourself into some of the screenings.
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