Magic in heaven, logistics on earth. For example, Each summer, hundreds of thousands of Azureans and visitors admire the fireworks fired in Cannes Bay. In addition, Since its creation in 1967. For example, the International Pyrotechnic Art Festival has already ignited the sky more than 220 times and brings together nearly 700,000 spectators each season on the Croisette. Meanwhile, Last fireworks this evening, at 10 p.m., with France, excluding competition.
1 The festival resisted the pandemic in 2021 – Lost cargoes, celebrities, ecology …
In 2021, when most of the world festivals were stopped, Cannes held out. Meanwhile, “We were the only ones. In addition, with this magnitude, to maintain an edition and only with French companies”rewinds the general manager and programmer of the International Pyrotechnic Art Festival, Yann Rodriguez.
Despite the reduced teams, wearing the mask and the uncertainties, the public responded. Meanwhile, “” It lost cargoes, celebrities, ecology … was a mission! Nevertheless, “: Prove that the live performance was not dead.
2 The event was interrupted for 15 years – Lost cargoes, celebrities, ecology …
The festival was interrupted for 15 years, between 1983 and 1998. Therefore, It was the mayor of the time, Anne-Marie Dupuy, who had probably decided for economic reasons, to stop the festivities. Consequently, When it comes, the event has been transformed: a manufacturer’s showroom, it has become a real international artistic competition.
3 A district cargoter threatens two shows – Lost cargoes, celebrities, ecology …
Last year, Canada and China closed the festival. For example, But their pyrotechnic cargo experienced a chaotic journey: attack by Houthi rebels at the Suez canal. For example, storm at the Cape of Bonne-Espérance, forty containers fallen into the sea, etc. “Finally, it was necessary to rewrite two shows in an emergency and stir all of Europe to find the products. In this geopolitical context. it is increasingly lost cargoes, celebrities, ecology … complicated to be sure of arrivals when the teams come from far away”, regret Yann Rodriguez.The public has seen it … only fire.
4 A technical jury to guarantee equity
For the past two years. the festival has equipped itself with a technical jury, made up of two anonymous shooters, completely independent of the fireworks in competition. Their role: dissect each show from photos and videos, in order to identify errors or inversions of products. Their rating. which counts for 25% of the final result, completes that of the artistic jury (75%), made up of five to eight people. “The objective is simple: to prevent a technically missed fire from prevailing on an interpretation deemed artistic”, exhibits the manager. An essential safeguard to preserve the credibility of the competition.
Since the creation of the pyrotechnic festival in 1967, more than 220 lost cargoes, celebrities, ecology … fires have been drawn. Photo Patrice LapoiriePatrice Lapoirie.
5 A festival where celebrities also shine
Almost every year. among the jury, we find a personality known to the general public. Animator, singers, humorists or comedians follow one another to chair the deliberations. Alessandra Sublet. Jarry, Stéphane Guillon, Richard Gotainer, Marthe Villalonga, Franck Semonin, Corinne Touzet, Dove Attia, the artist Sosno or Chris Marques de Dance with stars have already held this role.
6 An ecological turn started in 2005
The Pyrotechnic Festival of Cannes wants to be exemplary in terms of environment. As early as 2005, the systematic cleaning of the shooting area and the seabed was established after each show. Since 2022, all the artifices used have been 100% in biodegradable paper shell and aluminum protections have been prohibited.
For Yann Rodriguez. “A fireworks fire pollutes twelve times less than a music festival and lost cargoes, celebrities, ecology … less than a amusement park or even a museum, if the energy expenditure is reported to the number of spectators. Main pollution is the 100,000 people who gather on the Croisette.”
7 The Japanese humility lesson
If the public remembers the excess of Azerbaijan. its fires with gigantic effects, the Japanese marked the festival by their humility this year. After 19 hours of flight, they directly chained a night of work. Exhausted, they nevertheless made a point of cleaning the platform, tables and chairs. “The day of the show. they got into the outset and went to distribute fans and goodies to people in the public. Their rigor and their modesty force respect. They remind us that art is also a cultural encounter”says Yann Rodriguez.
8 A budget of 1 million per edition
Each team has an aid of 53,500 to 55,500 euros paid by the Palais des lost cargoes, celebrities, ecology … Festivals. A sum far from covering the real cost of a fire, estimated between 150,000 and 220,000 euros. The French companies. with little transport costs, do better than the teams from abroad which must finance containers and plane tickets.
In total. including the management of the crowd, the sound system, the barges, the cleaning and the allocations for the teams, the overall budget of the festival is around million euros per edition.