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Welcome all to the 193rd edition of the Forum Song Contest, hosted in the beautiful city of Cannes, France
This edition will be hosted in Cannes after France's victory in FSC #192 with the song “Je pense à vous” by Linh. This was France's 4th victory in the Forum Song Contest and their first since FSC #49 back in March 2013. Let's hear this beautiful winning entry from our previous contest once more:
Our host city for this edition is the luxurious coastal city of Cannes, France.
The spectacular city of Cannes is located in the south-east of France on the French Riviera along the Mediterranean coastline and is within the Alpes-Maritime department (administrative division) of the country. As per the latest figures available from 2022, the city is home to just over 74,000 people. Cannes enjoys a subtropical Mediterranean climate which provides the city with 11 hours of sunshine per day in the summer (July). Summertime in Cannes is long and warm which sees average daily temperatures of around 25 Degrees Celsius. However, summer daytime temperatures can regularly hit 30 Degrees Celsius. Winter (December to February) weather in the city is mild and average temperatures drop just below 10 Degrees Celsius during these months. Both seasons see relatively low rainfall.
The city of Cannes is known for its association with the rich and famous, as well as its luxury hotels and restaurants. The city is also host for a variety of key events, such as the annual Cannes Film Festival, annual trade fair Midem and the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, which brings together people and companies from around the globe who work in the advertising and creative communications industry. The NRJ Music Awards are also hosted in the city, as well as an annual television festival. Cannes will add a further major global event to this prestigious list by hosting the Forum Song Contest for the first time in the city's history in March 2025.
Due to it's advantageous geographical location, the city of Cannes' economic basis is provided through tourism, business fairs, trade and aviation. Around 3 million people visit Cannes each year, making it one of the most popular destinations in the world for leisure tourism. The area around Cannes has developed into a hub for advanced technologies, a key feature of which is the Sophia Antipolis technology park which lies in the hills just beyond Cannes. The city is also host to the Cannes Mandelieu Space Center, which is the headquarters of the first European satellite manufacturer, Thales Alenia Space.
The city of Cannes has a long and storied history. By the 2nd century BC, the Liguarian Oxybii tribe established a settlement here which was known as Aegitna. The area was a fishing village used as a port of call between the Lérins Islands. In the 10th century, the town was known as Canua and was probably the site of a small Ligurian port, and later a Roman outpost on Le Suquet hill. Most of the ancient activity, especially protection, was on the Lérins Islands, and the history of Cannes is closely tied to the history of the islands. The city was fortified by the construction of a castle in 1035. Around 1530, Cannes detached from the monks who had controlled the city for hundreds of years and became independent. During the 18th century, both the Spanish and British tried to gain control of the Lérins Islands but were chased away by the French. The 19th century saw the modernization of Cannes to follow the successes of nearby Nice. the late 1860s saw an expansion of casino, villas, hotels, roads and railway. In the 20th century, new luxury hotels were built and the city was modernised with a sports centre, a post office and schools.
The Promenade de la Croisette is a beautiful waterfront avenue lined with palm trees. La Croisette is known for its picturesque beaches, upscale restaurants, cafés, expensive boutiques and luxury hotels. This prominent road stretches completely along the Cannes coastline and is around 2 kilometres long. La Croisette is listed in the cultural heritage general inventory of France.
The Lérins Islands is a group of 4 Mediterranean islands off the Cannes coast. The largest of these islands, Île Sainte-Marguerite, is about a 15 minute boat ride away from Cannes harbour. Here you can visit the Museum of the Sea which is home to the cell where the mysterious “Man with the Iron Mask” was held captive. The museum also displays archaeological discoveries from shipwrecks off the coast of the island, including Roman and Saracen ceramics. The 2nd largest island is Île Saint-Honorat lies further south and is only inhabited by Cistercian monks, who have inhabited the island almost continuously since AD 410. The island bears the name of the founder of the monastery of Lérins, Saint Honoratus. Along with the two larger islands, there are two small, uninhabited islands called Îlot Saint-Ferréol and Îlot de la Tradelière. The Lérins Islands now belong to the city of Cannes.
The annual Cannes Film Festival was founded in September 1946 and was then known as the International Film Festival until 2003. However, the origins of the Cannes Film Festival go back to 1938 when Jean Zay, the French Minister of National Education, decided to set up an international cinematographic festival. This proposal received the support of the Americans and the British. Its creation can be largely attributed to the French desire to compete with the Venice Film Festival, which at the time was the only international film festival and had shown a lack of impartiality and political interference during those years. Many awards are given at Cannes, with the most prestigious being the Palme d'Or (Golden Palm) for the best film. The festival has become an important showcase for European films and is attended by many film stars and producers from around the globe to launch their new films.
The city is also home to it's football team, AS Cannes, who play at the Stade Pierre de Coubertin, named after the French co-founder of the International Olympic Committee. The club was founded in 1902 as one of the founding members of the first division of French football, finishing as runners-up in the league's inaugural season. The club's highest honour to date was winning the Coupe de France (French Cup) in 1932. The club have not been in the top division of French football, Ligue 1, since the 1997-98 season and are currently playing in the fourth tier of French football. However, the club is notable for having launched the professional career of French football legend Zinedine Zidane, who would go on to captain the national team and help France lift the 1998 World Cup on home soil. The city of Cannes is also host of the annual Jumping International de Cannes international horse jumping event every June.
The theme for this edition of FSC is "Welcome to France: The Country of Liberty"
The theme for this month's contest is a warm welcome and invitation to you all to explore the proud history of France and its pursuit and advocacy for Liberty. You will see in the show banners the inclusion of the impressive Monument à la République, which has stood in the French capital, Paris, since 1883. The monument depicts the allegorical figure of the French Republic, Marianne, who has been a symbol of France since the French Revolution (1789-1799). Marianne is a portrayal of the Goddess of Liberty and a personification of France's national motto “Liberté, égalité, fraternité”, meaning liberty, equality, fraternity. The pedestal of the monument is decorated with 3 statues representing each of these 3 values. France's national motto is believed to have originated during the French Revolution, however it was not institutionalised until the Third French Republic at the end of the 19th century. Today, the official logo of the French Republic used on government documents precedes the national motto, highlighting the continued importance of these values to the country.
The venue for this edition of FSC is the Palais des Festivals et des Congrès de Cannes
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FSC #193 will take place in the stunning Palais des Festivals et des Congrès de Cannes. The arena and convention centre was built in 1949 with a second building added in 1982 and a further expansion in 1999. The venue covers an overall area of 35,000 square metres and has numerous ex.hibition halls plus 18 auditoriums. The maximum hall capacity at the arena is 12,339 people. The arena is the proud host of the annual Cannes Film Festival and possesses modern and high-tech facilities. Palais des Festivals et des Congrès de Cannes has also hosted the 4th and 6th editions of the Eurovision Song Contest in 1959 and 1961 respectively.
Our hosts during the events of the edition are Olivier Minne and Laurence Boccolini
Our hosts during the events of the edition are Olivier Minne and Laurence Boccolini
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Olivier Minne is a Belgian-French television presenter, actor and producer. Olivier was born in 1967 in Belgium and was the son of a Belgian father and French mother. Minne completed his secondary school qualifications in Brussels before moving to Paris in 1989, where his television career began. Over his career, Olivier has earned widespread recognition for his skill and creativity, which has resulted in winning and being nominated for major awards, both domestically and internationally. Minne was also the French commentator for the Eurovision Song Contest from 1995 to 1997, and he co-hosted the Junior Eurovision Song Contest in both 2021 and 2023.
Laurence Boccolini is a French radio and television host who was born in 1963 in Versailles, France. Her career began as a radio host in the early 1980s, before beginning to host on television dueing the 1990s. In 2001 she was offered the opportunity to host a popular French television game show which ensured her national recognition. This followed by Laurence hosting several prime time television shows over the coming years. Boccolini also won the first season of the Masked Singer France in 2019, before co-hosting the National Final to select France's representative for the Eurovision Song Contest 2021. Laurence has also co-commentated the semi-finals and grand finals of Eurovision from 2021 onwards.
Laurence Boccolini is a French radio and television host who was born in 1963 in Versailles, France. Her career began as a radio host in the early 1980s, before beginning to host on television dueing the 1990s. In 2001 she was offered the opportunity to host a popular French television game show which ensured her national recognition. This followed by Laurence hosting several prime time television shows over the coming years. Boccolini also won the first season of the Masked Singer France in 2019, before co-hosting the National Final to select France's representative for the Eurovision Song Contest 2021. Laurence has also co-commentated the semi-finals and grand finals of Eurovision from 2021 onwards.
I am looking forward to listening to all songs!
