I was lucky enough to be selected by TIFF to attend Cannes as part of an extended Talent Lab initiative. I'm going to try and post a daily blog about my experiences. I'm not really sure how i should format these posts, so I'm just going to make it up as i go along.  Hope you enjoy it.

Here is a quick play by play of my first 24 hours experience of the festival.

May 15th

6:30 am:  I land in Nice, exhausted.  I didn't sleep a wink on the plane, i ate a large bag of peanut butter M & Ms and i watched airplane movies.

7 am:  Am waiting for the public bus to take me to Cannes.  In line i meet a producer from my own home town, Montreal, whom i've never met before.  His brother was somehow involved in financing Slumdog Millionaire.  The Schmoozing has officially begun.

7:45 am:  i'm sitting on the bus and i get a frantic email from Karen Bruce - my guardian angel - wondering if i could make a 9:30 meeting with uber producer/ gentleman Stephen Woolley.  9:30?  Of course, no problem, i say.

9:45 am:  I finally arrive at my hotel, horribly late for my first Cannes meeting. 

10 am:  I meet Karen at the palais and she makes sure i get my pass. It's painless.

10:30 am:  My body is telling me that i should be sleeping, that's it still 4:30 in the morning.  Instead i am sitting across from Stephen, downing coffee and listening to stories of scuttled deals and glamorous people.  He gives me some great pointers in how to navigate the festival.

11:30 am:  Bursting with knowledge, i head over to register at the Canadian Pavillion. I say hi to a couple of friendly faces, and step out the back of the pavillion to find myself standing on the beach, staring at the ocean.  This is Cannes.  I resist the urge to take my clothes off and dive into the water.

12 noon:  Nap time.  I set my alarm and tell myself i'll just lie down for a bit.  i nap for 2 hours.  I have to struggle out of bed.  My internal clock is all messed up.

3:30 pm:  I walk up and down the Croissette.  Tourists and paparazzi jostle for position outside fancy hotels.  They smell blood in the water.  Posters for the latest Transformers, GI Joe, and other miscellaneous blockbusters adorn the beautiful old buildings and obscure the ocean views.  It's all business.

5 pm:  This is what i was longing for.  Cocktail hour.  Specifically the TIFF cocktail.  My guardian angel introduces me to a dozen important players from TIFF, Telefilm, Tribecca, the Calgary Int'l Film Fest, etc.  It strikes me as odd that i have to come all the way to Cannes to meet some of them.

7:30 pm: I'm trying to concentrate and write this blog.  I'm totally wiped out.  Time to grab a quick bite to eat and to crash out so i can be rested for tomorrow.  My goal? Catch some films.  Stay Tuned.