The sixth Cannes AirShow, to be held from June 7 to 9, 2012, will be the opportunity to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Cannes-Mandelieu International Airport. Several special activities are planned, including a photographic presentation tracing the history of aviation and air shows.

Aviation hero

The current airport was developed following a major air show which hosted 50,000 spectators and proved to be the launch pad for the development of the airport way back in June 1911. In 1930, Paul Tarascon, the French aviation hero, invested the equivalent of several million euros to build the first airport on the French Riviera.

Exhibitors at the centenary event will include manufacturers Cessna, Cirrus, Hawker Beechrcaft, Embraer, Pilatus, Mooney, Daher Socata, Tecnam, Bose and many others. “There is nearly a 15% increase in participation this year compared to the 2011 show. Despite the economic crisis, the Cannes AirShow remains a ‘can’t miss’ event for general aviation in Southern Europe,” said Didier MARY, Director of the event.

More than 10,000 pilots and 20,000 visitors are expected to attend the sixth show this year. For news about this and other Cannes events, follow Cannes or Bust.

For the 6th time, the Break the Floor festival will be held on January 13 and 14, 2012. The first night will be dedicated to 8 duos in the Newstyle and Powermove styles. On Saturday 14, the 5 best worldwide breakdance troupes will face off with the 3 best French teams.

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It must be said: Italy has a remarkable palette of companies to boast of. It intends to position itself to reap the benefits of opportunities in the east. One of the opening events will see Mario Molete Moregato, founder of Geox, receive the Personality of the Year award and talk about innovative entrepreneurship. Athmosfera, Conad Adriatico and Game 7 Sports are among the new Italian companies attending Mapic this year.

There will also be talk of expansion in southern Italy and the role of Chinese visitors.

But to make it personal, what brands spring to mind when you think of Italy? I have my selection, but I’d be interested to see which ones readers have.

Don’t miss the last hotels for Mapic 2012

Kate Ancketill, CEO of trend tracker GDR Creative Intelligence (UK), will profile emerging concepts that will revolutionize retailing tomorrow. A consultant to major international companies such as Sony, Macys, LVMH, Nike and Land Securities, Kate Ancketill researches into and anticipates new consumer trends. Heard about “longevity stores” or “genetic testing spas” yet? Ancketill underlines the importance of creativity and the influence of new technology in shaping these new brands.

Terry Green, Non-Executive Director of Qmatic AB (Sweden), will highlight the key role of new technology in tomorrow’s shops. A specialist in queue management and consumer flows in retail outlets, Green helps brands reduce the waiting times in shops, enhance customer satisfaction by giving them a relaxed in-shop experience, and thereby boosts retailer performance. Sounds basic, but then the important things often are!

International brands in Asia and Europe
In addition to market positioning, the strategy of international expansion is key to remaining competitive in an industry of intense rivalry. For the first time, a simulcast MAPIC conference session will be organized with MIPIM Asia in Hong Kong to highlight the potential of the rapidly-evolving Asian market that is opening up significant opportunities for international brands.

At MAPIC, Carmine Rotondaro, Worldwide Real Estate Director PPR Group (France) and Jacques Ehrmann, Chief Real Estate and Development Officer of Casino Group (France), will share their experience in this market with two keynotes at MIPIM Asia: David Sancho, Vice President International Expansion for Mango (Spain) and Professor Armando Branchini, Executive Director of Fondazione Altagamma (Italy), a business forum for large Italian luxury groups.

So you’ll get two sets of retail learnings in one session. For details, check the MAPIC programme

The news is interesting, and is good news for the town of Cannes as well, as it will provide concert-goers from across the south of France with a reason to visit the town. Until this year, the concerts – though often very impressive – were mostly for delegates only.

The concert industry in 2012

It will be interesting to see if this changes Midem’s standing in the industry, as promoters usually chose between attending Eurosonic in the Netherlands just prior to Midem or the Cannes event. If they were primarily in the live concert business, that wasn’t much of a choice; Cannes was losing every year. Yet as Midem itself was always anxious to underline, live music has become one of the most solid foundations in a very weakened industry. Much of an artist’s career revolves around concerts in one way or another. Midem had created special events for live music professionals and artist managers.

The other major axis on which Midem has invested heavily over the past few years is the digital sphere, with incubator events such as MidemLab creating bridges between the developer community and the music business.

The live concerts will be produced by the French company Alias, which has built its reputation on high-profile events such as Les Inrocks as well as concerts by Adele and Muse. In addition to major concerts, there will be a series of smaller “off-Midem” showcase gigs held around  town which will surely bring an extra vibe to the whole event.

Photo of Ct4l Swap playing in Cannes by Jean Sébastien Zanchi

Why not save money at Midem, pre-book your hotel right now!

Early birds get the best beds at the best price.

Workshops and major brands

Pre-registrations for the exhibition and conference have been “very satisfactory both in the quantity and quality of visitors” compared with last year’s event, which can’t be a bad thing given the current economic climate.

Two breakfast workshops during TFWA World Exhibition will explore the emerging markets of Asia and the airline, cruise and ferry retail channels. This year’s event will also feature over 400 suppliers from across all product categories such as Tommy Hilfiger, Desigual, Fratelli Rossetti, Hédiard, Bourjois, Nuxe, The Sharper Image, Gérard Bertrand and José Cuervo.

Conferences to debate “a brand new world”

The TFWA World Exhibition 2011 conference, to be held on Monday September 19, will feature high profile speakers from the fields of geopolitics, economics and the luxury business. Salvatore Ferragamo CEO Michele Norsa will look at how traditional luxury brands can adapt to a changing world and changing consumers. IMD World Competitiveness Centre director Stéphane Garrelli, economist and business school professor, will take a region-by-region look at the global economy, identifying factors affecting growth and highlighting potential growth hotspots. Former UN secretary general Kofi Annan will give the keynote presentation, bringing his unparalleled global political experience and insight to bear on some of the biggest challenges facing the world today, including the dramatic changes underway in the Middle East and North Africa. TFWA president Erik Juul-Mortensen’s ‘State of the Industry’ address will reflect on an industry in evolution, coping with constant change in the geopolitical, macro-economic and social worlds and adapting to new realities.

For details, visit TFWA.

Book your TFWA hotel right now

Participants ill be given 30,000 tokens for game plays of 45 minutes. Three tickets for the Super Sat WSOP-Europe are also up for grabs. Satellite games with a buy-in of €150 will be held on Thursday 14 and Friday 15, with a €250 tournament being held on Sunday at 5pm. The last winner walked away with nearly €25,000.

Programme

Thursday 14- 20h00
satellite €150

Friday 15 -20h00
Satellite €150

Saturday 16 and Sunday 17 – 14h00
Freeze out €1000

Sunday 17 – 17h
Freeze out €250

Thurs 14/07 22h
IGUAL (Spain)

Thurs 21/07 22h
First GALAXY (UK)

Fri 29/07 22h
PYRAGRIC (France)

Sun 7/08 22h
MACEDO’S Pirotecnia (Portugal)

Mon 15/08 22h
KHAN (Russia)

Wed 24/08 22h
PANZERA (Italy) Hors compétition

Check this good value apartment during the festival

Programme:

• July 4 Place Sainte Jeanne (La Frayère) > Moi moche et méchant (animation) by Pierre Coffin and Chris Renaud.

• July 11 : Parking Berthelot/ex- Diabolika (Mimont -Prado-République) > Tout ce qui brille de et avec Géraldine Nakache et Leïla Bekhti.

• July 18: Marché de la Bocca > Les aventures extraordinaires d’Adèle Blanc-Sec by Luc Besson with Louise Bourgoin and Gilles Lellouch.

• July 25: Parking médiathèque (Ranguin) > Alice au pays des merveilles de Tim Burton avec Johnny Depp.

• August 1: Les gradins du Riou (Riou-Petit Juas-Vallergues) > Sherlock Holmes by Guy Ritchie with Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law.

• August 8: Place Saint Jin-Jin (Pointe Croisette) > Les petits mouchoirs by Guillaume Canet with Marion Cotillard and François Cluzet.

• August 16 at 9.30: Boulodrome Musso (Suquet) > L’Arnacœur by Pascal Chaumeil with Vanessa Paradis and  Romain Duris.

• August 22 at 9.30: Parvis du Palais des Festivals  > The Social Network by David Fincher with Jesse Eisenberg and Justin Timberlake.

• August 29 at 9.30: Lycée Carnot (Boulevard Carnot) > L’amour s’est mieux à deux by Dominique Farrugia with Virginie Efira and Clovis Cornillac.

The jury of the 2011 edition of the International Festival of Fashion Photography is composed of key figures belonging to the world of photography such as Peter KNAPP, artistic director, Jean-Luc MONTEROSSO, director of The European House of Photography in Paris, Fred RAWYLER, artistic director. They will give three awards according to the creativity, imagination and daring of the artists’ work – their ability to fire one’s imagination.

“…participate in the glamour…”

The photographers themselves are usually delighted to see their work outside of magazines. Said Sweden’s Elisabeth Toll: “I think the Festival shows the fluctuations in the contemporary fashion world in an extraordinary way, presenting the images along the Croisette, inviting all the passers-by to participate in the glamour. It is also
a rare opportunity for photographers to come together and discuss our work with colleagues instead of clients or agents. I feel very spoilt to have the chance to participate in this project.”