Yachts and Stars at the Cannes Film Festival

As the opening of the 67^th Cannes Film Festival approaches on May 14th, Hollywood’s A list are busy packing their bags and sifting through their party and premiere invitations as they prepare to walk the red carpet, air kiss their co-stars and dazzle the competition.

I’ve been covering Film Festival for six years and can honestly say that each year, despite the global economic downturn, the parties are every bit as glamorous and high spending. At the Belvedere event at VIP Room last year, the Dom Perignon and Belvedere vodka flowed freely amongst a group of high-rolling Bollywood film producers, while newly single Liam Hemsworth flirted and joked his way around revellers as Reverend Run from Run DMC worked the decks.

The yachts play every bit as important a role in Cannes as the celebrity guests in ensuring that the 12 day festival, which ends on Sunday May 25^th, goes with a bang. M/Y Lady Joy, owned by American socialite Denise Rich, often hosts a soirée for Desperate Housewives actress Eva Longoria with guests including Alec Baldwin, Tara Reid and Tamara Ecclestone.

Roberto Cavalli and his wife Eva also enjoy entertaining on their superyacht the R.C. Two years ago, I arrived for cocktails just minutes after Janet Jackson left and as film festival parties go, it was buzzing, the DJ was pumping  and we drank Moet & Chandon, marvelling at our good fortune. Last year, it was the turn of Cara Delevingne and Georgia May Jagger to dance until the early hours with Cavalli.

Steven Spielberg, last year’s Cannes jury president, did much of his entertaining and film watching from the luxury of his $200million superyacht Seven Seas. Rumour had it he and his fellow jury members were going to watch some of the entries in the comfort and privacy of the 282 ft yacht’s private cinema room.

And the John Walker and Sons S/Y Voyager saw lots of A list action, with parties attended by Martin Scorsese, Leonardo DiCaprio, Carey Mulligan, Robert Redford, Colin Firth and Nicole Kidman, who enjoyed Johnnie Walker Blue Label and Ciroc vodka cocktails on board the sleek 57m yacht.

With Nicole’s new film Grace of Monaco opening this year’s festival, 2014 looks set to be as glitzy as usual. One of the highlights of this year’s social diary is a charity backgammon fundraiser on the 49m superyacht Mojo with Vivienne Westwood and Pamela Anderson.

However, if you find your invites so far are a little thin on the ground, there’s still time to bag a yacht that can compete with the best superstar vessels on which to throw your own private parties.

According to Daniela Demarco, charter director at Fraser Yachts, M/Y Latitude and M/Y Force Blue are still available. ‘Latitude was booked last year by a film industry professional and it’s a great space for big events and receptions,’ she says. ‘Force Blue can have 120 guests at the quay for cocktails or a buffet and 60 for a seated lunch or dinner. The upper deck can be converted into a disco, there are lights, a subwoofer, a dance floor, even a DJ station. It’s a very popular choice for Film Festival.’

When:  14th- 25th May, 2014
Where: Palais des Festivals et des Congrès de Cannes
Admission: By invitation only

Screenings Guide can be viewed here.