Cannes Theatres & Auditoriums

The original Palais des Festivals was erected in 1949, three years after the first Film Festival in Cannes. That space was quickly outgrown and outdated, and a new, larger building was begun in 1979. Designed by the architects Bennett & Druet, another addition in 1999 brought the total area of the Palais to 25,000 sq. m. (29,900 sq. ft.), which is comprised of several rooms and at least 18 auditoriums, the largest able to hold 2,300 people. The walk up to the main entrance and the base of the building are dotted with hundreds of handprints and signatures of stars.