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Lights, Camera and Non-stop Nikki Action
With its fifth ear under wraps, Nikki Beach leaves its mark as Cannes’ premiere part destination

The jet setting Nikki Beach brand made its return to the South of France, where its signature beach club concept took up residence on La Croisette to produce one of Cannes Film Festival’s most exciting event spaces. As glamour, sophistication and the international party scene came alive, capturing that exclusively chic ambience that attracts celebrities and global A-listers to Nikki Beach around the world, the Cannes installment of the famed venue presented ten days of the hottest movie premieres, concerts and fashion shows from May 14th through May 25th.

One glimpse at Nikki Beach Cannes, and the telltale crisp teepees, customized bamboo furniture and custom white linens assured attendees, guests and film industry elite that the week’s celebratory hotspot was sure to be in full effect this year. The new daytime venue, situated at the modern four-star hotel Le Grand Hotel Cannes, featured a stunning beach club that faced the sparkling blue waters of the Mediterranean, only steps away from the red carpet action of the official Festival center, while the late-night Club Nikki is the epicenter of Cannes entertainment, and was located across from Le Grand Hotel Cannes inside the Palais Stephanie.

The quintessential locale to see and be seen, Nikki Beach’s always exclusive repertoire of events included a daily lineup of private parties, press junkets, high-energy sets and touring events headlined by world renowned DJ’s, and celebrity appearances in addition to the daytime/nighttime around the clock celebrations that makes the beach club the ultimate entertainment destination. Kicking off the week was a performance by Macy Gray, where partner L’Oreal’s spokeswomen Eva Longoria and Eva Mendes were spotted amidst a crowd of chic attendees. F*** Me I’m Famous, DJ David Guetta’s legendary touring club party, made a stop off at Club Nikki, joined with live performance by Chris Willis. The internet’s famously private group “ASMALLWORLD” celebrated on Friday night with a private event, while Wyclef Jean turned up the heat with an incredible concert that rocked the Croisette. Saturday and Sunday featured ultra exclusive fetes for HBO, Petra Nemcova, Europa Corp with Luc Besson, the cast of Indiana Jones and a live set by Birdy Nam Nam. A private celebrity poker tournament, dinners and cocktail parties, where guests ranged from Roman Polanski and Sean Penn to Dennis Hopper, Benicio Del Toro, Bijoux Phillips and Abel Ferrara, were scheduled through the rest of the week, while late night parties included Soiree Censored by John and Michael Roger, Video Jockey Micha Klein, Defected in the House, Le Bisou Party, Dj Gregory and more.

Yet another element to the overall Nikki Beach Cannes experience was the gifting lounge, which has put Nikki Beach Cannes on the map as one of the most coveted Swag spots for film starlets and celebrities to get pampered for their parties and premieres. This year, the “Riviera Lounge Gift Room” was produced by The Escape Group, and was open daily from 11:00am-5:00pm to offer on location product, servicing styling, and gifts to A-listers, award nominees and presenters, top stylists and media. Positioned as “gifting with a purpose,” proceeds from the lounge were donated to amfAR—an organization founded in 1985 that is dedicated to ending the global AIDS epidemic through innovative research.

An incredible list of week-long participants, including Grey Goose Vodka, Piper Heidsieck Champagne, Cointreau, Remy Martin, Motley Bird energy drink and Zeelander Yachts rounded out a platform of posh sponsors whose involvement enhanced the Nikki Beach experience from cocktails to chic cruises along La Croisette. Each partner capitalized on the creative energy circulating in Cannes, uniquely expressing brand creativity through custom integration. Cointreau showcased their new "Cointreau Teese", a violet “flower cocktail” created by the liquor brand’s new spokesperson Dita Von Teese using Monin violet petals and the Cointreaupolitan, while Grey Goose erected a sleek, fully functional customized ultra lounge complete with chairs that glowed with the signature Grey Goose logo and mirrored cocktail tables, serving libations with Caviar and fresh mango. Remy Martin was highlighted as the official cognac of the Cannes Film Festival, while Piper Heidsieck Champagne, the official champagne of the Cannes Film Festival, released a new "vintage" bottle at Nikki Beach and served their famous “Piscine” champagne cocktail on the rocks. Event the festival’s A-list was treated to a preview of new Dutch luxury yacht company, Zeelander, who offered the ultimate boating experience of their mini-superyacht that represents speed, glamour and technical expertise that appealed to Cannes sophisticates. Throughout the Cannes Film Festival, three Zeelander Yachts served as relaxation points and luxury taxis that ferried VIP’s to their desired destination- from glamorous film premieres and screenings to A-list parties and events.

Over the past five years, Nikki Beach at the Cannes Film Festival has catered to an incredible clientele, including Woody Allen and Scarlett Johansson hosting the premier party for their movie "Match Point,", the "Trophee Chopard," hosted by Penelope Cruz and Sir Elton John (two years in a row), an Alicia Keys private concert, Sharon Stone hosting her press conference for "Basic Instinct II," Natalie Portman and George Lucas's press conference for the latest "Star Wars," The Valentino Cocktail party and many others. As the festival and festivities came to a close, it was a wrap for the sixth consecutive year of Nikki Beach Cannes, once again setting the bar high as the ultimate jet set party scene on the Croisette.