Highly recommended to anyone looking to breach the glamour of the Cannes Croisette without wasting the many opportunities that can pass by first-timers, Benjamin Craig's guide is the leading handbook for independent filmmakers and film industry professionals looking to attend their first Cannes Film Festival . Demystifying the event and providing practical advice, Cannes - A Festival Virgin's Guide is about helping you get good value from your visit to the world's most famous film festival, and most importantly, surviving with your wallet intact.

A handy travel sized pack, it details everything you need to know for day-to-day living, such as places to eat, stay, shop, and even check email, and gives details on how to make your trip successful and cost-effective. If you happen to have any spare time or just need a break from the hustle and bustle of the crowds, the book also recommends nearby places to visit.

Many people arrive at Cannes unaware of the many events that happen alongside the formal competition for the ‘Palme d'Or'. Craig gives a detailed breakdown of these events (which are actually much easier to get tickets to). To give you a short summary, there's ‘Un Certain Regard' (a survey of current world cinema), ‘Cinefondation' (short and medium length films from film schools), ‘International Critics Week' (new film-makers, including shorts and features), ‘Directors Fortnight' (the most radical of festival sections for new directors), and, of course, the ‘Market'. The Market is the business side of the festival, and it is open to anyone who has something to buy or sell and is the largest event of this type in the world.

Craig's section on “The Biz” is the most interesting and useful. It's filled with practical information and guides you in your preparations for Cannes . This includes a list of essential items to bring and, most importantly, advises you to take “realistic expectations.” If you're looking to sell a film, you must prepare a professional-looking press kit, and Craig details what's necessary in one of those. Also included are sections explaining how to screen your film, the best way to schedule meetings with people, and, most importantly, a section on parties and networking.

Unfortunately the party scene at the Cannes Film Festival has changed a lot in the past few years. Security is much tighter in the wake of September 11, and film studios have become less willing to spend huge amounts of money on parties. Therefore, a few of the parties mentioned in the book no longer exist, and many of the techniques listed no longer work. They did work brilliantly the year this book came out, and they're still worth trying.

Craig concludes his book with a series of interviews with a range of professionals from across the industry so you can get the inside word on the event from a group of Cannes veterans. And finally, valuable information in five appendices: further info, useful contacts, a mobile phone primer, French vocabulary, and a list of reasonably priced hotels (although most hotels in Cannes itself are fully booked well in advance, but the book offers some very good and reasonably priced close-by alternatives).

There are a few points mentioned in the book that are useful to highlight:

• You must have accreditation to get anywhere close to the festival as tickets are not available for sale to the public.
• If you're lucky enough to get an invite to one of the premiere screenings you must wear black tie clothing: formal dresses for women and tuxedos for men. Also get there early! They give away more tickets than they have space for, so having a ticket does not guarantee admission.
• Essential items to bring: a mobile phone, formal wear, hangover kit, beachwear, umbrella, comfortable and formal shoes, credit cards, and business cards.

Cannes – A Festival Virgin's Guide is available to buy online at www.cannesguide.com, where you will also find out more about the festival.