the french critics we re rossellini film.n the map. and who else would it be but sofia lorentz to excite the crowds? it was not only international art cinema that defined cannes in its formative yea rs. defined cannes in its formative years. there was glitz, glamour and the media circus. cannes was always very good at attracting the most beautiful, talented and famous and, certainly, if you look at some of the images from the 1950s and you will see robert mitchum and kim novak and ava gardner. the glitz, the stars on the riviera. there really was solidified in the 1950s. over the years the official films slated cannes has recognised key films and filmmakers. cannes is dominated as the international taste makerfor dominated as the international taste maker for arthouse cinema. there are over 4000 film festivals the year and many of the other full important film festivals look at what cannes is showing what the word star and what the word of mouth is. it influences many other film festivals that follow. but cannes is perhaps no