MSN Cannes Diary: Day 1

Day one in Cannes and I arrive to discover Sacha Baron Cohen has been riding down the Croisette on a camel to promote The Dictator. We'd expect nothing less.

Meanwhile crowds are forming to catch a glimpse of the stars at the opening gala, Wes Anderson's Moonrise Kingdom, a typically offbeat affair from the Royal Tenembaums director about a troubled young orphan scout in the sixties who finds a troubled young girl to run away with him. Bill Murray plays distant dad while Frances McDormand is her megaphone-weilding mother. It's a super-styled, over-scored affair with charm to spare that seems to be a hit with most Cannes attendees so far. Tilda Swinton is extremely good but that's a Cannes given.

Out in the sunny streets it's business as usual: street dancers entertain the tourists while furrowed browed industry types jostle past on their phones and gala guests totter along excitedly in heels and gowns. My personal favourites are the glammed up French who've never seen the inside of the Palais but still doll themselves up to stroll down the Croisette arm in arm, often coordinating with their friend, partner or even mother.

Evening one was spent as any in Cannes should be: sipping Rose on the beach opposite the Carlton hotel (pictured), overlooking a huge promotional sign for Madagascar 3. An if that doesn't sum up Cannes, nothing does.

Crazy Cannes titbit
Now we all like a freebie but you have to admire the dedication of the black tie clad folk who clutter around the Grand Theatre Lumiere every night holding signs begging for a ticket to a red carpet gala. These guys have dressed up to the nines in the offchance that an accredited luminary might have a spare ticket they would be willing to give to a stranger.

• Cannes Day 1: photocalls!
• Stars arriving in Cannes
• Beth Ditto channels Marilyn Monroe at Cannes