Cannes High School Film Program

General Information

May 13–28, 2012 | Cannes, France

For the past 23 years, The American Pavilion has offered students the opportunity to participate in The Worldwide Student Programs, an internship/educational program that takes place at The Cannes International Film  Festival. There are six distinct programs offered at Cannes:

The Cannes Film Program
The Cannes Culinary Program
The Cannes Hospitality & Event Management
The Cannes International Business Program
The Cannes Alumni Program
The Cannes High School Program

Thousands of industry professionals including award winners such as Morgan J.Freeman, (whose film Hurricane Streets became the first narrative film to win three awards at The Sundance Film Festival) and Jeff Nichols, (Director, Writer, Producer, Take Shelter) and Alexa Alemanni, (SAG Award-winning actress) are alumni of the program.  All program participants receive accreditation to the Festival, a privilege normally reserved only for industry professionals.

Prior to the start of the Festival, students participate in a three-day Festival orientation and tour of Cannes. During this time students attend workshops and seminars designed to help them gain a greater understanding of the history of The Cannes Film Festival and the business side of the film industry. Once the Festival begins, students start their six-hours-per-day work placement with The American Pavilion (which includes a restaurant, bar, coffee bar, conference center and business center), with one of our sponsors or with other companies doing business at the Festival. All students have the opportunity to meet and interact with industry professionals, observing firsthand the fast-paced nature of the Festival and Market.

During The  Festival students participate in The Roundtable Series, which allows students to have small group discussions with noted individuals from both the creative and business side of the film industry.This programming is available only to students participating in The American Pavilion Worldwide Student programs. Past guests in The Roundtable Series include Tim Roth, Jude Law, Charlie Kauffman and Michael Moore.

Participants also receive membership to the American Pavilion which provides them access(work schedule and space permitting) to programming in The Roger Ebert Conference Center.  The center hosts panel discussions on topics ranging from film financing to the future of independent film. The In Conversation Series pairs leading journalists with industry thought leaders. Past participants in the series include Francis Ford Coppola, Malcolm McDowell, Wong Kar Wai, Terry Gilliam, and Andie MacDowell.

Since 1989, The American Pavilion has been a fixture on the Cannes landscape and the hub of the U.S. film industry’s presence at the Cannes International Film Festival. The Pavilion is a membership based communications and hospitality center for journalists, publicists, celebrities, filmmakers and motion picture executives working at the Festival.  The Pavilion is located in the International Village adjacent to the Palais (the main venue for competition film screenings) and the Cannes Film Market, which features over 4,000 companies from more than 100 countries.

This internship/educational program is unique and highly competitive. Hundreds of students compete for the 150 spots in the program.  As acceptance decisions are made on a rolling basis, candidates who apply by the  Early Decision deadline of December 5, 2011 have an increased chance of acceptance into the program. Building on the success of the previous 23 years, The American Pavilion looks forward to offering students selected for the 2012 Program a once-in-a-lifetime experience at the most prestigious film festival in the world.