MINNIE IS A DOYENNE OF THE FREEBIE

Oscar-style goody bags packed with gifts were scrapped for award ceremonies at the festival last year but celebs are still picking up treats from luxury holidays to pricey cosmetics and designer clothing.

Instead of being handed swag on the red carpet, they are welcomed into a hotel room turned into an Aladdin’s cave of freebies.

One of the first to quietly claim her bonus at the plush Hotel Carlton Intercontinental was British actress Minnie Driver, left.

“She left with four very large bags full of goodies,” reports an eyewitness. “She must have had several thousand euros worth.

“She was friendly with the gifting suite staff and left with pretty much one of everything.”

Goody rooms are being staffed 24 hours a day to ensure such stars as Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt, George Clooney and Pamela Anderson can take a break in their promotion schedule and pick up a treat.

A Cannes insider adds: “Having a star use a certain product creates huge business for companies so they have been only too pleased to arrange alternative ways to pass on their gifts.”

Nice work if you can get it.