Cannes Film Festival: Reflections

By Faith Elizabeth

Yes She Cannes CEO & Filmmaker of Faithful Films

To say 2025 was an incredible year for Yes She Cannes would be... an understatement!

Looking back, I’m honestly blown away by everything we achieved- even now, it still feels surreal that we pulled it all off. What started in 2018 as a small project to encourage more women to attend Cannes and support them when they got there, has grown into something far bigger than I could have imagined.

From online workshops to rooftop soirées, hosted villas with chef-prepared breakfasts, and personalised touches like our new membership cards and branded merch- to our first-ever collaboration directly with the Marché du Film- every moment was designed to celebrate, inspire, and empower, through education, community, and the creation of meaningful opportunities.

We kicked off the year with our Pre-Cannes Online Workshops- the CANNES INTENSIVE and the Your Questions Answered sessions- giving members the tools, insights, and confidence to make the most of their festival experience.

As part of the prep, we shared our “How-To Guide”, a handy digital Festival Planner to map out their own schedule (with pre-highlighted key events)- and a Goal Getter template to help everyone set intentions and make the most of their time at Cannes.

Not only that- but we also shared member profiles on Instagram, giving our community a little spotlight and a chance to share their journeys even before they arrived at the festival.

Once at Cannes, our She Sanctuaries became a true home-from-home. We hosted two beautiful accommodations- a luxury villa (complete with a pool!)- and an apartment next door.

Offering all guests a fresh prepared breakfast each morning- frittata and fresh fruit carvings by our chef were a particular highlight- and members raved that it set them up perfectly for the day ahead. Guests also received Lush Cosmetics goody bags and a Yes She Cannes tote filled with branded goodies and other curated surprises to help them make the most of their festival experience- including our SHE SPARKS Networking Cards- to support forming stronger connections through asking deeper questions.

Another way we supported our community was through the Yes She Cannes newspaper, featuring our members’ photos, showcasing our sponsors, and highlighting our events. Distributed to our She Sanctuary guests, and at all our festival gatherings- it served as a tangible keepsake celebrating our community, our partners, and the spirit of Yes She Cannes.

Waking up to a double-page Members Spotlight feature in the Hollywood Reporter was an unforgettable moment for our community. It was incredible to see our members celebrated on such a platform- shining a light on their work and achievements- and setting the tone for an exciting week at Cannes.

Our first in-person event of the festival was the Wellness & Empowerment Workshop with Ash from She Speaks Sense (now named not therapy) at Acai Spot, Cannes.

Members collected their personalised membership cards and badges, sipped on Acai smoothies and coconut protein balls- and worked through an intention-setting worksheet, helping them set clear goals for their Cannes experience.

It was the perfect- nourishing way- to kick things off. Feeding both mind and body with a healthy açai breakfast alongside the workshop, helped get our members grounded and inspired.

I also had the opportunity to be interviewed by Radio France, where I spoke about the mission behind Yes She Cannes- shining a spotlight on our members, our community, and the importance of creating supportive spaces for women at major industry events. We were also mentioned in a France TV piece featuring Cinebaby, further amplifying the visibility of our work and community.

That afternoon, we hosted our first ever event as part of the official festival programming- with the Marché du Film, in partnership with the Fantastic Pavilion.

Discussing Underrepresented Women in Genre, featuring panelists: Justine Ray Le Solliec: Cinebaby, Sharon Thompson: Design Essentials, Maria Shevtsova: Disauthority, and Mònica Garcia: Sitges – International Fantastic Film Festival, the panel was packed out- with attendees sitting on the floor, spilling into the hallways, and still we unfortunately had to turn many away.

The energy was electric- with many commenting it was their favourite panel they’d ever attended at Cannes. The discussion sparked insightful conversations, celebrated female voices in genre film, and gave our members a moment of recognition for their contribution to the community.

Watch a snippet from our talk on the Official Marche du Film Youtube here

The evening flowed into the Disauthority x YSC Cocktail Party, a curated social gathering with our partners and invited guests, covered by Getty Images. It was the perfect space to continue conversations and celebrate the day’s successes- all hosted by the Disauthority team, an ambitious new production company and post house making waves in the industry.

View the full album here

That energy carried into our Glam & Bubbles get together- a fun moment sipping a little bubbly and having our make-up done by Paula Clarke- before hopping into a taxi together to head over to the We Audition party, which we had helped our members secure tickets to.

Following the party, several members attended the DaVinici Masked Ball, co-hosted by She Squad member, Elizabeth Blake Thomas of Mother Daughter Entertainment, and hosted at the Carlton Hotel.

When we had a last-minute venue change (as happens in Cannes!)- our friend Osnat Bukofzer, who supports women in film through her amazing program at the Israeli Pavilion, kindly offered us her space to host our Members Meet Up.

The relaxed, intimate setting gave members the chance to connect, share experiences, and build meaningful relationships ahead of the busy festival schedule.

We even stepped onto the beach for a few photos- taking advantage of the pavilion’s stunning seaside location. The event was beautifully captured by ChicArt PR and photographer Arbel Eshet, preserving these special moments of connection and community.

The festivals events wrapped up with the Queen-Bee Films x YSC Roof Terrace Drinks Soirée, our rooftop gathering overlooking the city- with Deborah Hadfield from Queen-Bee Films generously providing our members a safe, beautiful, and memorable space to connect. Members relaxed with drinks and nibbles, soaking in the stunning views- a magical, celebratory way to close out the week and savour the vibrant festival atmosphere.

After everyone had (mostly) recovered from the craziness of the festival- we wrapped up the program with our Post-Cannes Closing, an online call to reflect on experiences, share highlights, and discuss next steps- whilst dressed in comfies and by plenty of caffeine!

Following the festival, Members were offered the opportunity to contribute to our blog series- sharing personal reflections and favourite moments- amplifying their voices and experiences from the festival.

Later in the year, we hosted an Online Workshop with Krishnaa Bhat, who shared insights on How Distribution Works from her Cannes internship with Protagonist Pictures- giving members a behind-the-scenes look at the industry and practical tips to take their own careers further, as well as a Summer-Meet Up.

Membership also offered exclusive opportunities and discounts throughout the year, including to 225 Film Club, Actors Pro Expo, Angela Dixon Coaching the London Rolling Film Festival, and more- extending the value and connections well beyond the festival itself.

None of this would have been possible without the incredible support of our members (and friends), including Aida Golghazi, Lona Fontaine, Alida Pantone, Lisa Miranda, and Justine Ray Le Solliec- along with so many others who continue to make Yes She Cannes such a vibrant, inspiring community.

Looking ahead to Cannes 2026- we’re busy planning exciting new experiences, workshops, and opportunities to connect, learn, and celebrate women in film.

Membership isn’t open just yet- but if you’d like to be the first to hear when it is, leave your email here and join the journey from the very start. It’s the strength, passion, and support of our community that makes it possible for Yes She Cannes to create meaningful impact at the festival- together, we make our presence count. Love & Blessings,

Faith x