THE CALM BEFORE THE STORM

BBonjour Madames et Monsieurs from sunny Cannes.

Here we all are again in the South of France at our home from home in the middle of the biggest film festival in the world.

This year we have down-sized our accommodation to a much more centrally located apartment overlooking the Cannes old town hill of incredible and over-priced restaurants. Niggly WiFi problems sorted and we haven't killed each other (yet) this year looks to be an interesting one, with a lot of exciting films lined up in the main festival – new offerings from Lars Von Trier, Terrence Malick, Takeshi Miike, Pedro Almodovar, etc and our old FEAR X friend Nicholas Winding-Refn who's existential actioner DRIVE is one of the line-up to compete for the prestigious Palme D' Or. This year it also seems that a lot more of our friends and associates from around the world are making the trip out after the last couple of years of recession doldrums.

Since arriving we have viewed a stack of potential FrightFest submissions of both the short and feature variety. A stand out has been the first Israeli splatter film RABIES. A tangled web of escalating violence with some wonderfully composed fright scenes, gore moments and oddball humour.

Planning the Cannes viewing schedule is always a long and arduous task and this year is no different with some 1400 screenings all vying for audience attention. Luckily we have seen a substantial crop of this years prime contenders – and again it's looking like an excellent year.

I just had an early wander around the Palais and watched the various sales stands being set up – amongst genre announcements and hoardings were the new Dario Argento – DRACULA 3D apparently featuring Asia Argento and Rutger (HOBO) Hauer as Helsing – with the titular Dracula himself still TBA. Shooting is scheduled to start May 30th. Another upcoming 3D offering is AMITYVILLE: LEGACY which starts filming in September.

I promise to try and find the very WORST that Cannes throws at us in terms of artwork and announcements – watch this space!

Tonight is our first dinner with Tim League (Fantastic Fest / SXSW/ Alamo Drafthouse) so that should be a fabulous way of starting the festival proper -it will be so great to catch up with him and his wife Karrie.

So.. the calm before the storm is over ... let battle commence!

If you'd like to follow me or Alan on Twitter for a steady stream of gossip and general nonsense follow @paulmcevoy and @alanfrightfest

Au revoir!

Paul.