Start of Cannes Film Festival 2025 Celebrated with a Glamorous Beach Lunch at Carlton Cannes, a Regent Hotel, with Vanity Fair

Cannes, France (May 13, 2025) –Cannes Film Festival 2025 has kicked off in style with the first major event of the fortnight hosted at Carlton Cannes, a Regent Hotel – part of IHG’s luxury and lifestyle portfolio. The Vanity Fair x IHG Beach Lunch welcomed some of the world’s most renowned stars and industry icons, including Julia Garner, Naomie Harris, Jessica Madsen, Fabien Frankel, Erin Kellyman, Emma Weymouth, and Anson Boon.

The Vanity Fair x IHG Beach Lunch was a precursor to the Official Opening Ceremony of Cannes Film Festival 2025 hosted at Le Palais des Festival, during which Robert De Niro was presented with an honorary Palme D’or for Lifetime Achievement. 

The Vanity Fair x IHG Beach Lunch took place at the Carlton Cannes Beach Club and was hosted by Richard Lawson, Chief Critic at Vanity Fair, David Canfield, Hollywood Correspondent at Vanity Fair, and Jane Mackie, Senior Vice President, Global Marketing Luxury, Lifestyle and Premium Brands at IHG Hotels & Resorts. 

A total of 50 guests enjoyed a three-course Riviera inspired menu crafted by Executive Chef Laurent Bunel. The menu featured dishes including a Bay of Cannes Sea Bass Tartare with flying fish roe, purslane & local flowers, as well as a dessert of local lemon, sour cream & kaffir lime meringue. A long dining table on the beach, adorned with the Carlton Beach Club’s iconic yellow and white stripe motif and fresh floral arrangements by Djordje Varda, created a moment for guests to savor the delights of the Cote d’Azur.

Jane Mackie, Senior Vice President, Global Marketing Luxury, Lifestyle and Premium Brands at IHG Hotels & Resorts, said: “Nearly 80 years ago, the Carlton Cannes hosted the very first Cannes Film Festival. And here we are, some years later, getting together once more to celebrate the richness of film and the industry’s creativity. The world of film may have come a long way since 1946, and our hotel has certainly evolved during that time. But what hasn't changed is the glamour, the elegance, and the joie de vivre which is still a cornerstone of this two-week-long festival.”

Richard Lawson, Chief Critic at Vanity Fair, said: “I’m thrilled that VF is once again partnering with IHG at this year’s Cannes Film Festival. The Carlton is an iconic hotel and the dream location to gather with emerging and established talent as we celebrate the beginning of this year’s festival. I truly can’t imagine a better way to kick things off.”

Beyond the festival, Carlton Cannes, a Regent Hotel, stands as an elegant grand dame along the French Riviera. Its timeless elegance and thoughtful service continue to lure discerning travelers from around the world through its doors. The hotel's legacy is intricately woven into the very fabric of cinematic history, having served as the iconic setting for Alfred Hitchcock's "To Catch a Thief" and an illustrious home away from home for Hollywood royalty through the ages.

Carlton Cannes shines brightly on the French riviera as a Regent Hotel. IHG has opened several new flagship properties within the Regent portfolio in recent years. Regent Hong Kong, overlooking Victoria Harbour, reopened in 2023 following a two-year transformation, while the opening of Regent Shanghai-on-the-Bund represents another property in a prime location and the brand’s second hotel in the city. Regent Santa Monica Beach officially opened in October 2024, marking the brand’s momentous return to the Americas. This elegant beachfront resort cements the reimagined Regent brand and the beauty of contrast by combining the glamour of Los Angeles with the splendor of the coast.