Preparations have been underway for months. The red carpet has been laid on the steps of the Palais des Festivals and every hotel in a 10 mile radius is full to bursting with filmmakers, actors, buyers, publicists and journalists. Tonight marks the start of the 63rd Cannes Film Festival, and I'll be on the ground for Cinematical for the next twelve days of screenings, parties and press launches.

But where to begin? As one of the film world's biggest events, Cannes can be a pretty daunting experience. Thousands of people, hundreds of things to do at any one time and plenty of opportunity to pick the wrong one - if you don't know your way around you'll quickly be out of your depth.

So what are the five things you should absolutely make sure you've got a grasp of before you head out onto the Croisette?

5) Know the Hotels - What doesn't happen in the Palais or on the beach happens in one of a number of Cannes' most exclusive hotels, mostly along the Croisette. Right across from the Palais is the Majestic Barriere. It's popular with the market crowd but is best known for its bar where celebrity spottings are all but inevitable. Then there's the Carlton, which becomes shrouded by large-scale movie posters and impressive ad displays. Inside it's packed to the rafters with sales companies and publicity offices.

Further down is the Martinez, which seems to host the majority of Cannes' A-List guests, and crowds regularly gather outside its entrance to get a glimpse of its occupants. But as star-spotting goes, isn't a patch on the Hotel Du Cap (pictured), about 20 minutes out of town, where the biggest stars live in absolute luxury. So old-school that it only accepted cash until a few years ago, its grounds are some of the most secure in the Cote d'Azur and ensure its guests are kept far from intrusive camera lenses.

4) Pack Comfortable Shoes - It really can't be overstated: a comfortable pair of shoes is a must. Cannes is not the place to break in your stylish new loafers, and tripping down the Croisette in stilettos will definitely end in tears. Trainers are the order of the day, and make sure they've been worn in a little bit. Blisters are a certainty, anyway, but at least this way you can offset some of the risk.

Another word on dress code: bring a tux/evening dress. All the evening gala screenings in Cannes are strictly Black Tie events; You might have directed the film but you will be turned away at the door if you're not suitably attired. And you never know when the invite to a fancy party may require a dinner jacket.

3) Scour the Market - The Cannes Film Festival would be at most half the size were it not for the Marche du Film (left) and its related film-sales goings-on. Most screenings are strictly for buyers, but it's always worth spending some time checking out what's on offer and keeping an eye on the Market daily paper. Your accreditation may get you in to some of these screenings, and in some cases that might afford you the chance to see a film a year or more before it even finds a festival to premiere at.

It's also great fun. The official Marche takes up the entire basement level of the Palais des Festivals, and it's an eye-opening experience. There are films in the market you've never heard of and plenty you never will. Films destined for straight-to-TV distribution only in Latvia. Some that might sit on their sales houses' shelves indefinitely, gathering dust.

The Asylum's booth, with its lookalike copies of Hollywood blockbusters - Titanic 2, Alien vs. Hunter, Pirates of Treasure Island - is always a highlight. So is Troma's stand, which will almost certainly be manned by Lloyd Kaufman himself. The Market is a veritable candy store of movies and you really won't want to miss it.

2) Find the Parties - You're no one in Cannes if you don't have your name on a dozen guest lists a night. Parties aren't just places to indulge in free booze and loud music, though there's plenty of time for that. In fact they're at least half the experience. It's at parties that you meet everyone from actors to accountants, and friendships and connections are made.

Of course the trick is to make sure your name is on some of the more exclusive guest lists. The better the party, the harder it'll be to attend. One of my favourite nights in Cannes is the Grey Goose Soho House party, which takes place at the Chateau de la Napoule on the first Saturday.

AmfAR is probably the starriest event in Cannes. A gala dinner and auction in support of the Foundation for AIDS Research, A-listers will make the trip to Cannes just to attend. Last year even boasted an ex-president: Bill Clinton showed up to auction one of his saxophones. Two attendees last year paid $28,000 each for a kiss from Robert Pattinson.

1) Pick Your Films - With the official competition, special screenings and Un Certain Regard, the main selection is more than enough for one person, but there are also two unofficial sidebars - Critics' Week and Directors' Fortnight - to consider, not to mention a million and one potentially interesting screenings going on in the Market. The single most important thing to prepare is the list of films you're going to keep an eye out for. That way you can stick them all straight into your calendar on day one, identify any clashes (and there will be clashes) straight away and try to correct for them. In fact, my diary is already stocked with all the film screenings I know about, and while I'll never manage to make everything I've scheduled, and will almost definitely be adding new screenings as the festival goes on, being prepared isn't just the battle; it's the whole war.

And that's about all you need to know to make your Cannes experience worthwhile. The festival runs from now until 23rd May, and you'll be able to check back in with Cinematical for reviews and news while it rolls on.