Where the heat is rivalled by ideas

IF YOU AREN'T sunburnt, dehydrated, or standing in a queue while reading this, are you even in Cannes?

- NEVILLE SHAH

There's crowded. And then there's Cannes 2025 crowded. This year, the town feels like Andheri station at 8:48 in the morning (the simile fitting this year) except everyone's wearing linen standing in queues.

The city transformed overnight. I arrived on Saturday afternoon to this semi-sleepy French town. But by Sunday, it was a full-blown creative mosh pit. Agencies spilling out of cafes. Clients at beach panels. People sneaking into every free rosé event in town. It's a miracle any meetings happen at all.

I've done three so far. Successfully yelling over a DJ and a talk that was meant to be over 30 minutes ago. Another inside the Palais, because melting outside wasn't an option. Pro tip: carry water. Lots of it.