The recession is over. Maybe. The ad world certainly hopes so, having shed an estimated 46,000 jobs during the Great Recession. The lucky few who remain are breathing a sigh of relief and looking forward to a new reality of tighter budgets and more scrutiny given to frivolous expenses. So, where does that leave Cannes, the industry's pre-eminent annual boondoggle? The festival and award show, which saw a steep drop in attendees last year, announced the opening of 2010 registration by trumpeting a price freeze: A full-week pass will cost $3,100—not chump change, but no higher than last year. Of course, there are other costs associated with sashaying around the Riviera with the industry's movers and shakers. You have to factor in airfare, obscenely expensive hotels and the odd $32 ham-and-cheese sandwiches and $12 bottles of beer. The numbers quickly add up. My guess is the Carlton Terrace won't be too crowded this June.

—Posted by Brian Morrissey