Mark Ringer’s remedies for Cannes Fatigue

Mark Ringer, Executive Creative Director at TBWA\Hong Kong is a serial Cannes delegate and former juror. He will be popping in to the Festival for a couple of days this year but before everyone heads there he offers a few remedies for “Cannes Fatigue”.

Cannes Lions; eight days, about 200 speakers, 15 separate awards presentations, production companies’ parties, your network’s stuff, the holding companies’ stuff, your agency obligations, your clients needs, and old friends and acquaintances. And it is wonderful. Until it isn’t.

In fact Cannes is a little bit like having an orgasm while sitting on a durian. Overall it’s pleasurable, but there will be painful moments.

It is ‘Cannes Lions Fatigue’ and I prescribe the following diversions to get you through the week.

If you’ve got an hour or more.

A walk to the clock tower in the old town.

Head along the waterfront to the west and beyond the Palais de Festivals you will see the clock tower striking up on the wooded hilltop from the nest of masts in the old port below. Dive in behind the restaurants beneath it and follow the paths and roads and stairs as they zig-zag up. At the top there is a church and walled gardens that frame views of the theatre of bays and mountains. The ancient stone walls make perfect seats for contemplation (about how to win your next Lion).

The Forville Market.

A couple of streets back from the old port on a Rue of its own name, it’s housed in a salmon pink hall.

Here you will encounter an authentic concert of daily Provencal life.

Elegant women negotiate with crusty old blokes for their wares (a little flirtation being the secret ingredient to a preferential price). And what are they buying? Well, melons from Cavaillon, sunflowers, local saucisson and cheeses, fruit and fruits-de-mer, brightly coloured wines and unctuous olive oils.

Go early enough and you will be in time to see the farmers finishing their days with a marc in the café opposite. The Market runs from 5am-1pm, except Mondays.

If you’ve got half a day or more.

Ile de Lerins.

Just off Cannes you will see an island, actually, it is two.

Ile St Marguerite whose fortress held the infamous Man In The Iron Mask (some say The Stig is a direct descendant) and cell visits are possible.

And Ile St Honorat that is privately owned by the winemaking monastic monks residing on it.

Both islands can be explored on foot, but be sure to pack your swim suits because the sea is enticing and vastly better than the murky waters of Cannes’ beaches.

Ferries leave from next to the Palais de Festivale and take about 15 minutes. Or take a speedboat, which is sexier.

Maeght Fondacion.

Nestled on a hilltop just next to the village of St Paul de Vence is a modernist building containing work from artists like Yves Klein, Giacometti, Magritte, Warhol and Chagall. It is surrounded by pine-scented gardens with lawns and terraces sprouting sculptures by Miro, Calder, Picasso et al.

Go early before the tourists arrive and you’ll be finished in time pour dejeuner.

It is a ten-minute walk back to the village proper, with the tempting La Colombe d’Or en route. The terrace cascades with ivy and the restaurant is filled with the work of formerly famished artists. However if you haven’t booked weeks ahead you won’t get a table, but that will save you from running into the very people you are trying, just for a few hours, to avoid. Instead, walk up through the fortifications of the village and turn a sharp left, for under the shade of 100-year-old trees you’ll find a restaurant called Le Tilleul.

To get from Cannes to St. Paul de Vence, you’ll need to take a taxi. It will take about 30-40 minutes and is about an 85 Euros investment in inspiration. Entrance to the Maeght itself is 14 Euros.

Monaco.

Take a train or taxi, but taking the train allows you to see more on your way to the principality where people who can afford to pay tax, choose not to. Leave the train station and you’ll feel there is something not right, then it will dawn on you, there are no poor people. Except you. Descend down to Avenue d’Ostende and turn left to trace the route of the famous Formula One circuit up to Casino Square and there is the legendary Café de Paris. In the late nineties, Ross Ludwig, Kurt Detweiler, Ted Royer and I sat in Café, drank Taittinger over lunch and happily looked out upon a life people in commercial creativity will never have.

So no matter whether you have an hour or a day, I encourage you to make the most of Cannes even if it means leaving the Palais from time to time. You will be slightly poorer, but all the richer for it.

Mark Ringer

TBWA\Hong Kong