Cannes Do!

Following criticism that last year's festival was marginally more interesting that watching your nails grow, the organisers of the 2004 Cannes Film Festival are planning to pull out all the stops. The two-week shebang traditionally saw film stars and the odd Empire journalist or two party manically for the duration, but in recent years the hedonistic quotient has slipped somewhat. This year, in an attempt to turn things around, the jury President Quentin Tarantino will announce the winner of the festival's most coveted prize, the Palme D'Or, at a glittering awards ceremony on the final weekend. This in turn will be topped by a shed load of fireworks and an awards night party which the Empire Online team are even now attempting to purloin tickets to. The final night of the festival will see the winning Palme D'Or film screened at another black-tie bash. The film's cast and crew will receive a heroes' reception at the Grand Theatre Lumiere where the full jury will be waiting at the top of the steps to welcome them.