The world's most glamorous film festival is all about partying, celebrity spotting and, of course, movies, but if you're not in the industry or the press, tickets are famously hard to come by. Though, Cannes presents the perfect opportunity to put those movie-world connections to the test, and, since so much of the action takes place outside the theatre, a trip to Cannes is always worth the trouble. And the best part? The whole sparkly, sun-drenched affair lasts more than 12 days.

The Drama
The Associated Press, Reuters, and Getty Images boycotted an April press conference to protest the deals festival organisers allegedly made that will giving festival sponsors preferential access for red-carpet video coverage. Okay, so maybe that’s not the juiciest scandal in Cannes history, but, once the festival starts, who knows what might happen.

Expect the black-tie crowds to boo films they don’t like (it’s a time-honored Cannes tradition). Last year, the genital-mutilation scenes in Danish director Lars von Trier’s Antichrist caused quite a stir. He doesn’t have a film in play this year, but Julian Schnabel’s documentary about the Israel-Palestine conflict, Miral, is sure to have audiences talking.

Movies with Buzz
As usual, the opening and closing night films are big on Hollywood firepower. (To keep the mood light, they’re not competing for any prizes.) Robin Hood, which reunites director Ridley Scott with his Gladiator leading man, Russell Crowe, kicks things off May 12th. And Oliver Stone’s much-anticipated Wall Street sequel, starring real-life lovers Shia LaBeouf and Carey Mulligan, as well original Gordon Gekko Michael Douglas, closes the festival on May 23rd.

The most-hyped film in competition is probably Fair Game, a CIA thriller from Bourne Identity director Doug Liman based on the memoir of real-life agent Valerie Plame. It stars Sean Penn and Naomi Watts. Babel director Alejandro González Iñárritu has teamed up with Javier Bardem in Biutiful, and Silvio Berlusconi probably isn't too happy about Sabina Guzzanti's documentary Draquila: L’Italia Che Trema, which takes the Italian government to task for its response to the 2009 L'Aquila earthquake.

People to Watch
Keep an eye out for actors trying their hand at directing. James Franco and Kirsten Dunst both have short films at this year’s festival. Decorated French actor Mathieu Amalric (star of The Diving Bell and the Butterfly and bad guy from the most recent Bond film) competes as a director for the first time with Tournée, a comedy about American burlesque dancers touring France. And Y Tu Mama Tambien star Diego Luna brings Abel, a drama about a Mexican boy who takes responsibility for his family in his father’s absence. And let's not forget the actors hitting Cannes as actors—like British hottie and former Bond girl Gemma Arterton who's the lead in Stephen Frears's graphic-novel adaptation Tamara Drewe.

Cannes Prizes
The big one is the Palme d'Or, followed closing by the Grand Prix. Last year’s winners, the German thriller The White Ribbon and French prison film A Prophet, both earned Oscar nominations for Best Foreign Film. The Jury Prize, the festival's third most prestigious honour, can be awarded to a film outside the Competition category, and more often than not it goes to an offbeat title. Tim Burton heads this year’s jury, which also includes Kate Beckinsale, Benicio del Toro, and Italian actress Giovanna Mezzogiorno.

Belle of the Ball
Indian newspapers were salivating at the prospect of a red-carpet faceoff between Freida Pinto and Aishwarya Rai. Pinto stars in Woody Allen’s You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger but work commitments have forced her to cancel on Cannes. Luckily, that leaves more room for Gemma Arterton, Carey Mulligan, Michelle Williams (Blue Valentine), Cate Blanchett (Robin Hood), Juliette Binoche (Certified Copy), and Naomi Watts (Fair Game, You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger).

Party Scene
We thought you’d never ask. There are two red-carpet premieres a night at the Palais, and an after-party for each. It goes without saying that these are private affairs. For Robin Hood, Universal is teaming up with Bungalow 8 for an 800-person bash. Expect a similar commotion for the May 23rd Wall Street party.

Traditionally, the biggest Cannes bash is the AmfAR benefit, which is one party you can buy your way into. Tickets for the black-tie gala on May 20th start at $4,000 (visit amfar.org). As an incentive, George Clooney has been known to kiss auction bidders, but we can’t guarantee he’ll do it again this year.

Like many of the big deal events, AmfAR goes down at the Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc in Antibes. And the very next night, Dior and French Elle host a dinner there in honour of up-and-coming French actress Melanie Laurent. Vanity Fair is also throwing a party at the super-upscale property, as is larger-than-life manager, promoter, and all-around beau monde Charles Finch. (Never heard of him? Go here.) During daylight, the hotel’s famous diving board (it hangs over the ocean) is a popular spot for beautiful people and yacht owners alike.

A perennial favourite, the Chopard Trophy bash usually takes place at a venue off the strip; this year, the Geneva-based luxury brand is throwing a second party in honour of its 150th anniversary. The movie studios often reserve a private strip of the beach for their parties, but some of the glitziest get-togethers take place on yachts—it is the Riviera, after all. Paul Allen is hosting one on board his super-yacht, Octopus, on the 17th. Other bigwigs likely to entertain on boats this year: Ron Perelman, Oracle CEO Larry Ellison, and power couple Matthew Freud and Elizabeth Murdoch. It’s even rumoured that Richard Branson and Queen Noor might make an appearance in Cannes. And with the World Music Awards going on next door in Monaco on May 18th, expect that to be a big night for pretty much everyone.

Word is festival regulars Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana are skipping their annual Cannes bash in order to focus on a D&G anniversary celebration in Milan in June. Or maybe they’re just downsizing the Cannes party. (Perhaps Stefano will offer some clues via Twitter.) As usual, Naomi Campbell will host her birthday party during the festival—cozy up to a Russian high-roller and you’re likely to end up there too.

The velvet ropes are a little lower at Nikki Beach, Baoli, and other Cannes party spots. The after-hours scene at Hotel 3.14 has drawn a good celebrity crowd in recent years, which is a definite plus if you’re partying there but not if you’re staying there.