The Croisette is abuzz with reporters, film critics, wannabes and tourists.  It is time for the annual event that puts all those attending in a cinematographic bubble for ten days.  The rest of the world is being attacked by aliens for all we know, but we would go on unawares. Or the reigning cinematic ambience would annihilate them.  This is, after all, the biggest film festival and market on the planet where imagination, movie stars and clever publicity abound.

Hit the jump for our first report from Cannes, including posters from Transformers: Age of Extinction, How to Train Your Dragon 2The Homesman, The Expendables 3, Awol 72, and more.

cannes posters

The 67th Cannes Film Festival opened on Wednesday with the out-of-competition Grace of Monaco, its star Nicole Kidman gracing the infamous red carpet steps.

While Olivier Dahan's biopic, which has the Rinaldi family's seal of disapproval, did not generate critical enthusiasm, the excitement is mounting with the giant billboards of movies to come and publicity events to occur.

It is Transformers fighting alongside the Expendables at the Carlton Hotel.  While the Autobots and Decepticons announce the Age of Extinction (out June 27), the expendable superheroes each stand guard all along the Carlton's facade.

On Sunday, director Patrick Hughes and his cast - Sylvester Stallone, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Mel Gibson, Harrison Ford, Jason Statham, Antonio Banderas, Wesley Snipes, Dolph Lundgren, Kelsey Grammer, Randy Couture, Kellan Lutz, Ronda Rousey, Glen Powell and Victor Ortiz – promise a surprise on the Carlton Beach to introduce Expendables 3 (August 15).

Preparations are also underway to welcome a dragon on the Croisette.  How To Train Your Dragon 2 (June 13) will land on the shores of the French Riviera on Friday. Adventure guaranteed.

The Cannes Film Festival runs until May 25th.

Here are some of the posters and billboards around town.  Look for more of my coverage from Cannes tomorrow.

The-Expendables-3-poster-new

how-to-train-your-dragon-2-poster-cannes-2014

transformers-4-poster-mark-wahlberg-cannes-2014

transformers-4-poster-cannes-2014

transformers-age-of-extinction-poster-cannes-2014

transformers-poster-cannes-2014

awol-72-poster-cannes-2014

la-chambre-bleue-poster-cannes-2014

maleficent-poster-cannes-2014

the-homesman-poster-cannes-2014

the-little-prince-poster-cannes-2014

walk-of-shame--poster-cannes-2014

transformers-age-of-extinction-poster-cannes (1)

transformers-age-of-extinction-poster-cannes

transformers-age-of-extinction-poster-cannes

transformers-age-of-extinction-poster-cannes

transformers-age-of-extinction-poster-cannes

black-and-white-stripes-poster

the-expendables-3-poster-cannes

sex-tape-poster-cannes