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From the red carpet glamour to the never-ending standing ovations, Kara O’Sullivan talks us through her first foray in the world of Cannes, the associated ‘content Olympics’, and some surprising celeb sightings.
I still Cannes not (sorry, I had to) quite believe I found myself standing on the red carpet at the 78th Annual Cannes Film Festival.
If you told me this would be part of my job: styling, capturing content, and stepping onto one of the most iconic carpets in the world, I would never have believed you. But here we are. Bucket list, ticked. You may be wondering, what’s it really like to go to Cannes? Is it as fabulous as you would imagine? Yes. Absolutely.
I was invited to Cannes with an amazing client I work with, Sabina Socol, who was there with the luxury Italian fine jewellery brand, Pomellato. We’ve worked together on styling and content for a while now, so this felt like a major milestone, and honestly, I am still shook that I was asked to go.
As a first-timer, I genuinely had no idea what to expect, other than some fancy frocks, a few celebrity sightings, and probably a bit of chaos. In the lead-up, I watched some vlogs and read a couple of articles trying to get a taste for what it would be like, but I knew arriving would still be surreal.
The arrival
I arrived just after 1pm following a slightly delayed but very scenic train ride. (Cannes travel tip: always look chic. You never know who’ll be on board.)
We were staying at Hotel Barriere Le Majestic, one of the most iconic hotels on La Croisette, and just a stone’s throw away from the steps. Upon entering the hotel, you’re met with paparazzi, police and people waiting to spot their favourite stars. I was sorry to disappoint them!
The lobby is another world altogether; it’s like fashion week meets the Oscars meets Grand Central Station. A glamorous zoo of hotel staff, assistants, stylists, photographers, press, PRs, and celebrities coming and going. I caught a glimpse of Kristen Stewart leaving the lift in a dreamy pink Chanel look for the premiere of her film, The Chronology of Water. That was a personal highlight.
And then there’s the content. Content is being shot everywhere: staircases, landings, elevators, from every angle. In every corner, there’s a mini photo shoot happening. The content capturing in Cannes is like an Olympic sport. Balancing numerous cameras, phones, lighting equipment, even props while navigating through the hotel to find the best spot to shoot. It’s actually very impressive, and I imagine, a pretty decent workout.
The room, the glam, the BTS
I made it to the room via a lift shared with Michael Cera, who politely agreed with the hotel staff that some tea would be a good idea. The sea view from the room was dreamy. We took it in for a few moments until hair and make-up arrived, and then the glam was well and truly underway.
Hair and make-up artists work around the clock during Cannes. Some are booked and busy for the entire of the festival’s duration, with back-to-back bookings every morning, noon and night. Others come and go, or set up nearby and see what the week brings. Cannes becomes a true hub for fashion, beauty and glamour.
The dress code
There’s an unspoken dress code at Cannes. People expect elegance but also individuality. The key is to get the balance just right, to go all out but not lose yourself in the process. I love discovering the inspiration behind people’s looks. And I really love the idea of paying homage to an outfit in a particular film, or referencing a notable cinematic era.
Sabina’s magical dress was inspired by Andy Anderson’s iconic golden dress in How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days. She looked absolutely phenomenal in this custom-made dress, which was the result of a beautiful collaboration with designer Antoine Guerin. You have to follow him on TikTok if you don’t already. His behind-the-scenes creation videos are mesmerising. It was so special witnessing the dress come to life, from the initial inspiration to weeks of hard work, it could not have been more perfect!
The carpet
Even though the carpet was quite literally across the road, a car arrived to take us to the steps. It might sound mad, but this is how it works. Your car is your spot in the line-up to les marches – think of it as the red carpet queue.
This is when I had my Cannes moment. Two minutes of calm in the car, pinching myself to make sure it was all real! I had to tell myself to take it all in, because it will go by in an instant, and that no matter how random I feel amongst all of the stars and celebs, I am here for a reason and I have to enjoy every second of it. This was probably what Paris Hilton was talking about when she invented the phrase ‘sliving’.
In my head, the red carpet would be a long, leisurely affair full of celebrity catch-ups and photo ops. In reality, it lasts for about 30 seconds and feels no more than 30 metres long. Guests arrive on the red carpet in carefully staggered slots, allowing celebs space for solo shots, without a crowded backdrop. Especially for guests attending with a brand or designer, it’s very important to ‘get the shot’. What looks effortless in photos is often the result of meticulous planning. Many guests coordinate with photographers in advance to know exactly where they’ll be positioned, ensuring they don’t miss their moment on the iconic red carpet.
There are no phones allowed on the carpet. This is, of course, to keep things orderly and timely, and presumably to stop randomers like me from vlogging the whole thing. Sadly, that also means that there’s little evidence I was even there! But I managed to snap a quick pic of my shoes in the queue. That counts, right?
Beyond the excitement of statement outfits and celebrity encounters, I was expecting some added drama with the new dress code rule, introduced just 24 hours earlier. For the 2025 edition, the festival banned visible nudity and overly voluminous silhouettes on the red carpet. I’m sure the stylists and stars were sweating and scrambling behind the scenes with this news, but I didn’t see anyone get turned away or booted off the carpet.
The film (and the applause)
Once inside the Grand Théâtre Lumière, the energy shifts. The lights dim, the screening begins, and there’s a collective exhale after the chaos. Sitting down to watch a movie feels wild after the adrenaline rush on the carpet, and it takes a while to really relax and realise you’re in a cinema watching a film.
The film we saw premiere was Dossier 137, a powerful French production based on a true story. It follows the horrifying events of the 2018 yellow vest protests in France, focusing on the near-fatal injuries of a young man caused by the police’s misuse of a ‘flash-ball’ gun. The cast, including Léa Drucker, Jonathan Turnbull and Mathilde Roehrich, delivered impeccable performances, and the story was raw, captivating, and at times deeply frustrating; exactly what a narrative of this nature should be.
Then comes the standing ovation. Apparently it’s customary for every film at Cannes to get a standing ovation, but the length of these are no joke. I had heard about this before, but presumed it had to have been exaggerated. Nope, not even a little bit. Every time it started to slow down, someone in the crowd would start it up again with a cheer and a roar. You would be there all night if there wasn’t a fabulous after-party to attend.
The after-parties
Once the film ends, the parties begin. La Croisette transforms into a glittering strip of beach soirées, rooftop events, and hotel lobbies packed with industry names and lots of sequins.
The films’ cast and crew celebrate their recognition at Cannes, whilst other celebs and stars hop from film celebrations to brand dinners to exclusive private parties, and people really know how to party in Cannes.
You also start to realise that Cannes isn’t just for the elite. Yes, it’s full of glam guests and designer gowns, but there are also plenty of normal, mere mortals walking the same streets, catching films, soaking it all in. I learned that you can go to Cannes without a premiere invite; you just need to know where to look and how to apply in advance.
The next morning, after breakfast in bed and one final stroll along La Croisette, it was time to catch my train home. In a fun twist of fate, I ended up sitting near some of the cast from the film I’d seen the night before, it was totally surreal!
I still haven’t quite wrapped my head around the magic of those 24 hours in Cannes. Everything ran smoothly, not even a single hiccup, and we soaked up every second of it. It honestly felt like a dream to be part of something so special. Who knows, maybe I’ll be back next year…
