[Photo by Brian Brooks/indieWIRE]

Yesterday afternoon's event was not quite the glitzy raucous party that one might assume should come out of a "Morning After" report, but it was so nice, it deserves the attention. Cannes Mayor, Bernard Brochand (also a member of France's parliament), pictured standing on the far right, hosted a fab lunch atop Cannes at the Musee de la Castre for international press, and the Festival de Cannes jury.

Locals wearing traditional Proveneal clothing holding flower bouquets and playing music greeted invitees, which must've numbered about several hundred (maybe 10% of the entire Festival de Cannes' accredited press). Everything about the afternoon went perfectly, at least it seemed so from our point of view. The Rose was particularly good.

Of course there was a bit of a photo frenzy when jurors entered. The group, which arrived via police escort in the now distinct official chauffer-driven Renaults, took their seats in a sectioned off area, initially mostly ignoring requests for photos. Mayor Brochand, however, motioned for the group to stand for a quick impromptu photo session (I'm sure it never occurred to them this would ever happen) and they obliged. The jostling began amongst the photographers, naturally, so the picture we have is a bit blurred, but you get the idea... From top left to right are director Fatih Akin, actress Salma Hayek, jury president, director Emir Kusturica, actress Nandita Das, Mayor Bernard Brochand, actor Javier Bardem in the center with director Agnes Varda to his left.

We couldn't help but speculate while eating lunch what potentially "opinionated" deliberations this particular crop of jurors must have. Can you imagine if Hayek, Kusturica and Varda didn't agree? rrrrrRRRRR-MEOW!!!!! God bless and cheers...