The Cannes Film Festival is an annual, invitation-only film festival held in Cannes, France, which previews new films of all genres from around the world. Founded in 1946, it typically takes place in May at the Palais des Festivals et des Congrès. It is widely regarded as one of the most prestigious and highly publicized cultural events globally, attracting significant media attention and serving as an international marketplace for the film industry. The festival is known for awarding the Palme d'Or (Golden Palm) as its top prize, which was introduced in 1955.