There has never been (and there will likely never be) a Cannes Film Festival like the one that just wrapped. Being the first major festival to conduct an in-person fest since the pandemic pause in 2020 meant all eyes were on the red carpet of the French Rivera; the Venice Film Festival had a scaled-down affair in late 2020, but it paled in comparison to what we saw on the Croisette. From the COVID-19 protocol restrictions — and those same restrictions being ignored — to the record low attendance, everything combined to give us the most stress-free year in recent memory. Those lucky enough to make their way to Cannes found tickets easily available and screenings just half full. Most of the galas – which previously were so packed that even people with tickets were turned away – frequently did not have enough attendees to open the balcony of the Grand Lumiere Theater.