Cannes gang... Members of the festival jury, including (far left) novelist Orhan Pamuk and (second from right) British director Stephen Frears. Photograph: Andrew Medichini/AP
One of the many joys of Cannes, apart from the shoving crowds of international journalists trying to get into every screening, the constant queuing for events and breathless trotting along the Croisette between appointments, is reading the endless descriptions of films that are being touted in the market - the huge commercial sector of the festival, where deals (and quite possibly throats) are cut. Some of these films may even get made sometime. Many of them will remain mere glints in a producer's eye. Here is one that I really hope sees the light of day, from the Japanese company Toei: "Exte - Hair Extensions. Synopsis: Hair extensions carry the grudge of the individual to which the hair originally belonged and start attacking people wearing them." Marvellous stuff.
Orhan Pamuk, sainted Nobel Laureate, is serving on Cannes' grand jury this year - which is chaired by The Queen director, Stephen Frears. So what was his first memory of the festival, he was asked. Was it the masterpieces of Truffaut or Godard? By no means. "It was a black and white photo of a semi-naked woman on the beach, in the early 1960s. I thought, 'I want to be there.'"
And why have none of Pamuk's novels been turned into films? "I'm notorious for not giving easy permission," he said. "I'd love to see my books turned into good movies, but Ernest Hemingway said, "Hollywood gives you the money and you give them the book, and walk away." I just can't do that. I ask too many questions, and then I break hearts."
