Film. is. magic.

All the digital photographers and fimmakers are desperate to try and emulate real feelings and emotions.

good times🍹

Love the light leaks 😍

My first camera, many moons ago 🤙

Ah, 2017, a year etched in the annals of Côte d'Azur, or as we often call it, the French Riviera. The Riviera has always been an electrifying tableau of glitz, glamour, and occasional drama. That year was no different, it was a veritable roller-coaster ride, packed with culture, intrigue, and old-fashioned Riviera charm.

It all started with the 70th Annual Cannes Film Festival, a beacon of global cinema. Celebrating its septuagintennial anniversary was an affair to remember! The Riviera was abuzz, the esplanade glittered with flashing bulbs and star power. Among the many highlights was "The Square," a Swedish film directed by Ruben Östlund, bagging the prestigious Palme d'Or. Who could forget the standing ovation for "120 Beats Per Minute," a poignant exploration of the AIDS epidemic in 1990s Paris? Emotions ran high, and the applause echoed throughout the hall, punctuating an unforgettable fortnight of cinema.

In sports, AS Monaco FC, the pride of the Riviera, showed us all why football is more than just a game. They not only seized the Ligue 1 title that year, ending Paris Saint Germain's dominance, but they also made it to the Champions League semi-finals. The riveting performance of their young star, Kylian Mbappé, added fuel to the fire, captivating audiences worldwide. It was a season that had fans on the edge of their seats, restoring the local passion for the sport.

But it wasn't all glittering stars and cheering fans in 2017. A decade-long saga, often likened to a Hollywood thriller, reached a climactic turn that year. The notorious "heist of the century" trial involving Russian billionaire Dmitry Rybolovlev and Swiss art dealer Yves Bouvier, sent shockwaves through the tranquil seafront. Accusations of defrauding, breach of trust, and high-profile art world machinations - it was a scandal that had the well-heeled residents of Monaco whispering in their waterfront villas.

On a lighter note, Nice Jazz Festival made sure the Riviera swayed to a different beat. Herbie Hancock's fusion jazz and Mary J. Blige's soulful renditions, underscored by the balmy Riviera summer, brought together music lovers from all corners of the globe, reminding us all that music transcends borders.

And let's not forget the unveiling of Villa Carmignac on the island of Porquerolles. It was a triumph of art, nature, and architecture, an underwater passage leading to a forest, a modern art collection that left visitors spellbound, truly an epitome of "modern meets classic," a theme that echoed throughout the events of the year.

There were highs and lows, triumphs and scandals, but that's the beauty of the Riviera. Life is never a monotonous drone. It's a spectacle, filled with moments that make you gasp in wonder or lean in with curiosity. So here's to 2017, a year that Côte d'Azur will not forget, and neither will those lucky enough to have experienced it!