The Cannes Film Festival is such a famous event known the world over, and people from all parts of the film industry flock to the city on the French Riviera every year in the second half of the month of May.

As a high media profile event, it draws large numbers of international stars and, of course, photographers who have their role to play, albeit minor, in the grand context of the spectacle of Cannes, contributing to the legend as it grows over the years. Most prefer the visual parading on the red carpet leading up to the entrance of the Palais des Festivals, but some choose to do portrait shots of film-makers and actors for publication in the printed press.

At the last three festivals, Stephan Vanfleteren has been doing portraits for the French daily Le Monde, photographing prominent figures present in Cannes. His stylized black and white portraits offer a striking contrast to the glamour, glitter and glow of the festival. But the conditions for photo sessions when shooting a portrait in a hotel on the Croisette are far from ideal: very little time is allowed with the press attaché keeping a constant eye on the clock, the light can be bad, and there are always other reporters waiting impatiently nearby for their turn.

The present exhibition is a series of portraits of both iconic figures in the world of movie-making and of up-and-coming talents. They were published in the Arts pages of the newspaper Le Monde.

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