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The annual film festival in Cannes was founded in 1946 and it is considered as the most prestigious film festival in the world.
It is held every year at the Palais des Festivals et des Congrès, usually in May.
The festival has become an important showcase for European cinematography. It offers an opportunity to present an individual country's image of its cinema as well as maintains the notion that European films are more 'artistic'.
Furthermore, considering its massive media exposure, the festival is attended by many celebrities and is a popular venue for film producers to launch their new projects and attempt to sell their works to the distributors who come from all over the globe.
Take a look at the best images from Cannes taken through the years.
Cannes through the yearsShow all 25 1 /25Cannes through the years Cannes through the years Cannes through the years 1954: British actress Simone Silva posing topless with the American star Robert Mitchum during the Cannes film festival. Having been elected 'Miss Festival', Simone Silva was asked to leave the festival after her semi-nude pose which resulted in one photographer breaking his arm and another his leg in the rush for pictures
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Cannes through the years Cannes through the years Actress Brigitte Bardot running barefoot along the beach, Cannes, France, April 28th 1956
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Cannes through the years Cannes through the years English director Alfred Hitchcock arrives by bicycle on the Croisette, May 15, 1972
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Cannes through the years Cannes through the years Actress Diana Dors modeling a turquoise swimsuit, which she will be taking on her trip to the Cannes Film Festival, April 28th 1956
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Cannes through the years Cannes through the years 1956 - Diana Dors, the starlet, with the Cadillac in which she arrived at the Cannes Film Festival
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Cannes through the years Cannes through the years American actors Warren Beatty and Natalie Wood pose for the photographers at the Cannes Festival in May in 1962
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Cannes through the years Cannes through the years Italian actress Sophia Loren in 1964
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Cannes through the years Cannes through the years French actress Catherine Deneuve at the Cannes FIlm Festival, 9th May 1966
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Cannes through the years Cannes through the years Beatles drummer Ringo Starr chats with French film director Roman Polanski at the Cannes film festival, whilst attending a screening of the British film 'Joanna', 17th May 1968
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Cannes through the years Cannes through the years George Harrison with his wife, model Patti Boyd at London Airport, on their way to the Cannes film festival, 16th May 1968
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Cannes through the years Cannes through the years 1967: English actress Vanessa Redgrave, with Italian actor Franco Nero at the premiere of her latest film 'Blow Up', at the Cannes Film Festival
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Cannes through the years Cannes through the years Portrait of American filmmaker Alfred Hitchcock taken 27 may 1972 at the Cannes international film festival
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Cannes through the years Cannes through the years American film director Francis Ford Coppola (L) receives the first price for his movie 'Conversation' from American actor Tony Curtis 25 May 1974 at Cannes film festival
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Cannes through the years Cannes through the years English actress Jane Birkin goes out on a pedalo during the 28th Cannes International Film Festival on May 1974
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Cannes through the years Cannes through the years 1975: Celebrated French director, Roger Vadim, meets up at the Cannes Film Festival with the no less famous actor, Dustin Hoffman, in town to present his latest film, entitled 'Lenny'
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Cannes through the years Cannes through the years 1975 - British actress Charlotte Rampling attending a varietyclub gala in Cannes
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Cannes through the years Cannes through the years Six women in Edwardian costume splashing in the surf at Cannes during the Cannes Film Festival, 10th May 1976
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Cannes through the years Cannes through the years 1960 - Guests recreate a classic scene from 'La Dolce Vita' at a party given by French photographer Louis Dalmas during the Cannes Film Festival
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Cannes through the years Cannes through the years 1977 - Arnold Schwarzenegger, the film actor who first became famous as Mr Universe for his magnificent physique, on Cannes beach during the Film Festival with the girls from the Folies Bergere
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Cannes through the years Cannes through the years 1977: British actress and television presenter Floella Benjamin poses on the beach at Cannes in her bikini. She was attending the film festival as one of the stars of Anthony Simmons' racial drama 'Black Joy'
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Cannes through the years Cannes through the years Paul McCartney and his wife Linda arrive at the 33th Cannes Film Festival, on may 15, 1980
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Cannes through the years Cannes through the years 1982 - Steven Spielberg (C) poses with productor Kathleen Kennedy (L) and screenwriter Melissa Mathison (R) at the 35th Cannes Film Festival, during a photocall for his film 'E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial',
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Cannes through the years Cannes through the years French actor Gerard Depardieu and French actress Nastasia Kinski arrive 15 May 1983 at the 'Palais des Festivals' in Canne
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Cannes through the years Cannes through the years 1986 - Roman Polanski (C) with British actress Charlotte Lewis (R), and French actor Cris Campion (L) for the presentation of his film 'Pirates'
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Cannes through the years Cannes through the years British singer and actor David Bowie gives a press conference presenting the Japanese movie 'Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence' directed by Nagisa Oshima (L) on May 11, 1983
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