What you need to bring to Cannes

With the Cannes Film Festival just days away, it's time to look at the essential items to take before stepping on the red carpet and walking through the film market.

*Film Industry Network earns a commission for products purchased through links included in this article.*

Every year thousands of us go to Cannes to catch a glimpse of the stars, make movie deals and get our names out into the open. Below is a list of things you should bring to make the most out of your trip:

1. Professional email address

If you're handing out business cards and you don't have a professional email address, this is something you should set up right now. Having an email with your own domain shows how serious you are about what you do. If you are Mr iamnotrelevant@hotmail.com or notreallybothered@yahoo.co.uk.es.spg, it tells your potential customer, supporter or future mentor that either you haven't started your career yet or you don't know where you're headed.

A pro email address automatically puts you on another level.

Even if you don't have a company, making this step will already put you in the business frame of mind and the majority of people at the top of the film industry have professional emails.

2. Sunglasses

Painfully obvious but some of us don't bother. Bring a pair of sunglasses, because the sun is very intense at Cannes and you'll spend a lot of time walking around the Croisette with a headache otherwise. It's best to have a pair with you rather than buying one in Cannes since all the prices are inflated during those 10 days.

3. Tuxedo or suit

For the men in the audience, you need to have one or the other (Or both). If you have a festival badge you can get red carpet tickets. If you go to parties or get invites to exclusive events out of town, again, image is important. Bring at least a suit, but if you really want to be pro, get the tux for the red carpet. (You'll need a bow-tie for your suit if you get a red carpet ticket)

4. USB Stick

It sounds kind of old school but the internet is really crap in Cannes. Don't depend on France to provide you with bandwidth. Lots of people bring laptops and have files, presentations and videos to share but can't do it because of connection issues. Bring a a USB stick with you. They really come in handy when you want to present projects, or just exchange files locally.

5. Tablet + headphones

A tablet is a really nice presentation tool for your films. It's much better than a phone to show videos because it's very bright in Cannes, and with a small screen, it's hard to see content outside. If you can afford it, bring a tablet with you. You'll also be able to use apps to record audio and video at events and masterclasses. It's also a good idea to bring a set of discreet headphones because sometimes the ambient noise is too much for people to properly hear what your showing.

6. Flipcam

A lightweight, portable camera that records video could be very useful for your marketing. You can document your trip and use that footage years after you went to Cannes. We have recorded footage most years in Cannes and always found it to be very useful. After all, if this is your first time going, why not capture the fun? It's a great memory to keep.

Well that's about it. From our experience these are really the most useful things to have whilst being down there. We hope you guys have a great trip and enjoy the festival!

Film Industry Network receives a commission when a product is purchased through affiliate links included in this article.