Derek Ridgers: CANNES

The famed British press and street photographer travelled to the film festival on various assignmetns over 12 years between 1984 and 1996. His photographs are remarkable. They are not the usual film studio sponsored papaprazzi portraits, rather they present an unfiltered photo-documentary of the other photographers and their subjects, both celebrity and salubrious. 

"The first time I went to Cannnes on assignment for the British music magazine NME, I went to shoot Afrika Bambaataa and to attend the showing of the hip=hop film Beat Street, which was in competition at the Palais. 

Wandering up and down the Croisette, through all the crowds of fervent film fans, i noticed huddles of photographers forming on the beach. One always heard about how Brigette Bardot was supposedly discovered posing on the beach during the Film Festival. I also knew it had become somewhat de rigueur for you actresses who wanted to follow in her footsteps. But it all seemed quite nuts. Hundreds of mostly amateur photographers roaming around trying to get women to pose for them. Sometimes the objects of their attentions were starlets there for the HOt D'Or adult film awards (which took place at the same time), but more often they were just young women sunbathing on the beach. 

The whole event seemed like one big crazy circus. But a big circus that drew me in and I'd be lying if I said I didn't find the whole thing hugely photogenic"

Title: Softcover with gatefolds + obi band 
Publisher: IDEA, 2025
Photographer: Derek Ridgers
Graphic Design: -
Format: 
Size: 25.5cm x 20cm 96 pages
ISBN: -
Edition: 500