In&Out 2014 Gay and Lesbian Film Festival

Cannes may have the world famous film festival but did you know that there is also the 6th In&Out Gay and Lesbian Film Festival happening from April 24th to May 3rd in both Nice and Cannes?

This annual event continues to grow year after year with a number of films, readings, performances and exhibitions that can be found throughout both cities.

The theme this year is ‘Je t’aime, mon non plus’ which for the festival can be referred to as a cheeky statement alluding to the fact that no matter how far we think society has come in accepting the LGBT community, in many countries it is still not safe to assume one can fully be themselves and feel completely accepted in their surroundings in order to freely live their lives.

Huge strives have been made but there still is a long way to go.

Teaser In&Out 2014 Gay and Lesbian Film Festival

Over the ten days of the festival there is an impressive array of films from around the world to choose from, and all catering to your current mood or interests.  Films based on everything from camp humor and queer classics to activism and exploring new sexual territories.

This selection of films will be part of open discussions and in general help one another learn that much more about unique LGBT experiences.

There will also be special guest directors, producers and actors in attendance from not only Europe but also North America.  Another great way to network is to attend the special soirées held nightly at the local gay and gay-friendly establishments in support of this year’s film festival!

For more details, check the In&Out 2014 Gay and Lesbian Film Festival website.

Excelsior Régina Palace Nice-Cimiez

One cannot speak of the district of Cimiez in Nice and not mention the anchor of the area, the historic Excelsior Régina Palace.

Practically across the street from the Musee Matisse, construction of this majestic former luxury palace hotel started in 1895.  Designed by architect Sebastien Marcel Donohoe, it took only 18 months to complete and for the time it was considered to be state of the art having electric lighting by incandescent lamps, plumbing and central heating and yet staying true in keeping with the romantic Belle Époque design style.

In fact I would say this is one of the most impressive examples of grand Belle Époque design that can still be seen around the French Riviera today, and that also includes the tone of the lavish garden across the street which was built using the excavation of the grounds for the hotel.

The story that is told today states because the Cimiez location is on top of a hill overlooking the city of Nice, at the time only the rich aristocracy and elite established estates here as it wasn’t easily accessible on a regular day-to-day basis unlike now.

Also, Queen Victoria had just started visiting the French Riviera bringing with her a large entourage and influential interest to the region.  It is said that the Excelsior Régina Palace was built with the Queen’s particular needs in mind since she had already previously stayed in Menton, Cannes, Grasse and Nice.

 

Sure enough, after the completion of the hotel Queen Victoria did arrive with her 100 plus entourage taking over the entire west wing of the hotel for her summer holidays where she enjoyed her freedom using the extensive private park hotel garden and where she was even known to take out a donkey she had purchased from a local and go for buggy rides by herself around the area.

Later over the years, during the First World War the hotel was requisitioned by the military authority and turned the prestigious property into a military hospital.

In 1920 a property company bought the building and turned it into Hotel Regina, but only nine years later with the 1929 stock market crash and general long term economic depression the hotel went bankrupt and sold at auction, furnishings and all.

In 1937 a new real estate firm bought the building and transformed the four hundred rooms into ninety-eight condo units which still exist in various shapes and sizes to this day.  One of the first tenants from 1938 to 1943 was the painter Henri Matisse who lived in a large apartment/workshop.

Although entry is restricted to the individual property owners today, if you look online at real estate listings for the building you can usually get a good idea of how individual each of the condo properties appear to be, if you are lucky enough perhaps you know someone to get inside the building.

If you are a movie buff and have a keen eye you will notice portions of the Regina Palace have been used as location shoots for the movies: Dirty Rotten Scoundrels and The Good Thief, mainly of the latter.

To this day the former Excelsior Régina Palace is exquisitely maintained.  It would be an obvious privilege to live in such a characteristic building with a long history with panoramic views of the surrounding city of Nice all the way out to the sea.

Making your way and viewing the intricate details of the Regina Palace is a must on your tour of Nice-Cimiez.