Let’s be real—Cannes has never exactly been short on drama, dazzle, or decadent displays of wealth. Between the diamond-drenched red carpet walks and yacht-deck soirées with flute after flute of vintage Champagne, the French Riviera already oozes spectacle. But this May, there’s a new kind of showstopper rolling into town—not up the Croisette, but along the Jetée Albert Edouard Nord, glistening in the sun and exuding a different sort of cinematic charisma.
Enter Hedley Studios, purveyors of what might just be the world’s chicest oxymoron: miniature, driveable, electrified automotive masterpieces. Yes, these are cars. But also—very much not your average cars.
photo: @Hedley Studios to bring automotive art to the Cannes Film Festival with pop-up showroom on Vieux Port de Cannes Marina (@Hedley Studios)
From Silver Screen to Vieux Port: A Star-Studded Lineup
Hedley Studios’ pop-up showroom at the Vieux Port de Cannes Marina, running during the Cannes Film Festival (13–24 May), feels less like a dealership and more like a curated gallery of rolling sculpture. These limited-edition creations are built in collaboration with legendary marques—Bugatti, Ferrari, Aston Martin, and Bentley—and showcase a wild blend of heritage, design, and fantasy that’s hard to categorize. Think Pebble Beach elegance meets childhood dream car garage.
For those strolling past yachts and luxury liners, the sight of the Bentley Blower Jnr might cause a double take. A fully electric, 85% scale tribute to the original 1929 Bentley Blower, it’s a heady mix of nostalgia and eco-conscious mobility. The fact that it’s legal to drive on the road—and practically made for a Riviera joyride—only adds to the appeal.
But Hedley hasn’t stopped at vintage elegance. They’ve gone full Bond mode too.
Licence to Thrill: The Aston Martin DB5 J “No Time to Die” Edition
Possibly the most eye-popping part of the exhibit is the Aston Martin DB5 J “No Time to Die” Edition, a 66% scale marvel complete with gadgets from the film—smokescreen, cycling number plates, miniguns (non-functional, of course… we hope). It’s the kind of thing that could make even a Cannes regular drop their espresso and utter an unscripted “Mon dieu.”
While this Bond homage might not save the world, it absolutely steals the show.
Heritage, Shrunk—but Make It Luxe
Also gracing the marina is the Ferrari Testa Rossa J, a 75% scale, Le Mans-winning icon reimagined with obsessive historical accuracy and over 300 hours of artisan labor. If you ever wondered what it would be like to relive Ferrari’s golden era in miniature—here’s your chance.
Rounding out the quartet is the Bugatti Baby II, a tribute to the legendary Type 35. Developed using 3D scans of the original 1924 Grand Prix car, this electric rework is perhaps the most Cannes-appropriate of the bunch—a French icon, reborn with flair and finesse.
Cannes, But Make It Drivable
The Cannes Film Festival has always been a place for world premieres, but Hedley Studios is premiering something different: the future of luxury car collecting, seen through a delightfully whimsical lens. This isn’t just a showroom—it’s a statement about how luxury today isn’t just about power or exclusivity. It’s about craftsmanship, creativity, and a hint of play.
Still, there’s a soft irony here. In a town where parking a full-size Rolls-Royce can be a logistical nightmare, these beautifully downsized, drivable objets d’art might be the most practical vehicles on display.
Ben Hedley, Founder and CEO, puts it best: “Each of our pieces resembles a slice of true automotive art.” And in Cannes, where everything is about performance—whether on the screen or on the street—it’s a performance well worth catching.
