Monday

Despite a late night it was up early and into the infinity pool to wake ourselves up beneath the blue skies of the French Riviera.
And then it was time to do some business.
We checked out the pavilions where the film boards of the countries of the world had pitched their elaborate tents.
Into the Irish Film Board to issue some more invitations to our big bash in Morrison's Bar on Wednesday night, cup of coffee, a few important phone calls, and then down a few pitches to the British tent to meet up with some old friends of the Richard Harris International Film Festival.

Super Villian Sean Cronin was holding court and Stephen Hall took the opportunity to get him interested in his next project.
Cannes has very little to do with what you have previously done or doing now (unless it's a distribution deal), and everything to do with what you are doing next.
It's all about the money.
The ground in Cannes is littered with the names of the rich and famous that are constantly being dropped - whether it is in association with the next project, or simply because they had been seen the night before.
They keep themselves firmly locked away from the mere mortals though as they inhabit the top hotels with over zealous security or behind the ropes of VIP sections.
But the majority of the Cannes attendees are ordinary individuals who have come to network and find people who can fund, direct, star in, film or distribute their next interesting story.
It's all about the pitch.
And the craic.
And the banter.
And it abounds in Cannes on every corner, in every bar, in every hotel, at most parties.
And you never know who you're going to meet next.

Sunday

Because Steve, Paul, Aaron and Adam got an earlier bus myself and Zeb pretended that we had missed the 12.15 from Arthur's Quay to Dublin Airport. We sent texts saying we had gotten a lift from Zeb's wife Sylvia but had been stopped for speeding. We informed them that it was unlikely we would make it.

In normal circumstances this wouldn't have made a difference to the others but the chauffer lift to the hotel, and the hotel booking itself, were all in my name.
I doubted they even knew the name of the hotel, let alone the address.
We kept it up untl we surprised them at the Ryanair check in.

We arrived at our villa in a fancy holiday complex at around 10pm, dumped the bags, and hit Cannes!
It was Sunday night and the place was heaving. In Cannes you don't get in to any of the evening screenings or parties unless dressed in a dress suit so the streets looked like a spillover from a very large wedding.
We were just casually dressed but then we were only going for a few pints.
I think we hit the pillows around 5.30am!

The infinity pool overlooking Cannes Port

Front Page!

Huge thanks to Limerick leader journalist Fintan Walsh who did a feature on us this weekend on the front page of the weekend edition.

The Tux

Apparently you don't get in anywhere at night in Cannes unless you're wearing a dress suit and dickie bow, or a 'tux' as the Americans like to call it.
A big thank you to Tony Connolly's in Patrick Street for sponsoring me for this attire for Cannes.
Pictures of me in said 'tux' to come!

Cannes!

I first saw the posts going up on Facebook.
Steve Hall's "Safe" and Paddy Murphy's "The Cheese Box" had been accepted to the short film corner of the 69th Cannes Film Festival.

The Cannes Film Festival! The mere title suggests film stars and the elite that accompany them. Where the best artistic movies are born and recognised.
To be acknowledged by the Cannes jury is a recognition that you are among the best that the industry has to offer.

A French film festival that the Americans hold in high esteem. Where the movers and shakers meet on the French Riviera to plan productions, deals and distributions that will resound throughout the worldwide industry for the following 12 months.

And here were the local lads on their way to join them.

Yes, I was jealous. But I was thrilled.
The Limerick Film industry was born about five years ago when Keith Bogue and Simon McGuire started making short films. Both times I was approached and asked would I take a role. No money involved of course, it was all low budget, as in NO budget.
No one was getting paid. They still don't.
We did it then and we do it now, for the love of it. And the hope that something bigger would come.

And then, boom! Along comes 2016, the impending opening of Troy Film Studios and locals going to Cannes... it was all starting to pay off.

In January this year I was asked to act in a short film in Belfast. Expenses only. I read the script and

said yes straight away. Michael John Daly had written an excellent short script entitled Mother's Milk And Cookies and had already won 3rd place in the the Best Short Screenplay category at the Los Angeles Independent Film Festival awards. We shot it in a day in Belfast, directed by Conan McIvor, and I came home and forgot about it...

Until I got the news that Mother's Milk And Cookies was also accepted at the Cannes Short Film Corner...I was going to Cannes!