MIPTV Digital Conference, Retail Therapy and the Hayter Printmaking Exhibition

1 March 2017

The Definitive Guide to What’s on in Cannes this April

This April, Cannes is filled with great entertainment, retail therapy, high culture... and a world-leading digital conference. All are helping to pave the way for the town’s glitziest event of the year, the Film Festival, arriving at the end of May. But first… here’s our guide to the MIPTV Conference, the Stanley William Hayter Printmaking Exhibition, and the Cannes Shopping Festival. 

MIPTV: A Global Showcase of TV and Digital Talent 

Palais de Fesitvals (3rd until 6th April 2017)

The 2017 edition of the MIPTV festival will be an exciting and inspiring celebration of TV and digital content. Showcasing a diverse array of talent, it’s a festival that continues to attract all the major players in TV and digital; as well as brands, agencies and buyers from around the world. With an audience of professionals, players and creatives drawn to the Palais de Fesitvals, MIPTV is a spectacle that is growing every year.

The festival serves as a platform to showcase premier screenings, digital creators, virtual reality products and industry speakers. And is one of the best places to see new content technology, witness the latest advancements… and of course, to help get your next project commissioned.

The event also cements Cannes commitment to supporting a variety of international and local talent, and will present the winners of the Digital Short Form Series. The jury this year includes TV big heads, Damon Berger, Claire Mcardle and Jackie Edwards.

This year’s expo is also serving to highlight the launch of future creative projects, such as the city’s international TV festival in 2018 and a soon-to-be-built 30 million euro artist complex.

Stanley William Hayter Printmaking Exhibition

La Malmaison Art Center (until 30th April 2017)

A British artist associated with Surrealism since the 1930s, Stanley William Hayter is regarded as one of the most significant printmakers of the 20th century with exhibitions at the Whitechapel Gallery, Venice Biennale, the V&A Museum – and now the La Malmaison Art Centre.

The prints in this exhibition will give the visitor a rare insight into Hayter’s innovative techniques, and several paintings and engravings on panelling will be displayed. These works inspired a  generation of avant-garde artists from the Surrealists, to the Expressionists, to the Cubists.

You will discover his unique technique of creating bold lines in his prints with visionary zeal and unflinching energy. Look out for works such as Combat, which was created prior to opening his iconic Atelier 17 studio a year later. Engraved in 1936, Combat takes as its subject the Spanish Civil War, with figures created from sinuous lines which fill the composition, and engraving processes exaggerated to evoke a sense of depth. Like Combat, many of the prints throughout the exhibition will depict his fluid engraved lines and innovations in colour printing on a single plate.

This is a fascinating retrospective to discover the artist who influenced countless masters such as Dali, Pollock and Rothko, to transfer such techniques to their own paintings.

Cannes Shopping Festival: An Experience Not Easily Forgotten

Various venues (14th until 17th April 2017)

Cannes Shopping Festival will partner with over 700 boutiques to offer up to 50 % discounts for shopaholics; eight prestigious fashion parades; and a range of limited-edition products. The open-air shopping session will take place in a variety of streets across the city centre, allowing every fashion addict to discover major brands and ready-to-wear collections. Here, many of France’s Premier Shopping stores will present a wide variety of makeovers, special gifts and more.

Last year, those who spent at least 200 euros in selected shops were offered exclusive invitations to attend one of the fashion parades at the Palais de Fesitvals. Keep a look out for the fantastic prizes up for grabs in this year’s edition. For those without an invitation, reservations can also be made at the Cannes tourist office.

After watching the runway parades, head out to the Chanel and Yves Saint Laurent boutiques for high-end sales and cocktails. A highlight of the privileged experience is the luxurious Carmen Steffens shop, a treasure trove of shoes, bags and accessories. The friendly staff will be on hand to showcase the high-end items and limited edition goodie bags will be handed out to shoppers.

Just a 13-minute walk to Shoppers Paradise

Visitors who have shopped until they drop will not want to venture too far out to enjoy a four-star end to a stunning day. The Amarante Cannes is a beautiful hotel situated conveniently around a 13-minute walk from the main shopping centre. Cossetted by breath-taking views of the centre, it truly is an ideal place from which to discover the events of one of France’s most privileged cities.