Post-Cannes Film Festival 2019 reflections
I love this quote published in Variety by Rocket Science founder Thorsten Schumacher: “Cannes is unique. In a very small place, in very short time, a lot of people with a lot of energy, enthusiasm, ambition and resources come together. You cannot beat that.”
Where else can you strike up banter with Jessie Eisenberg about the perils of a unisex toilet? Or have a ‘competitor’ intercept you giving your business card to a potential client and then proceeding to eat it (you know who you are - and ps. it wasn’t card it was made from recycled t-shirts). Where else can you nonchalantly drop onto a yacht for lunch, have cocktails overlooking a red carpet premiere or stroll down the beachside promenade in black tie attire before its even noon?
As well as having fun, you also immerse yourself in industry highs, lows, gossip, predictions and woes. Here are my post-Cannes Film Festival Reflections 2019:
Chinese companies are proceeding with caution. The same numbers seem to be in attendance but the focus has changed from glitzy to value for money. The first quarter has been disappointing for Chinese movie studios with a slow box-office, a new industry regulator, tightened censorship and a tax suppression. As a result financiers have been reluctant to invest and production has decreased. It is reported around 600 productions were shut down. The Chinese buying strategy this year at Cannes is one of price-consciousness and an attempt to acquire more light-hearted family content.
The impact of Hollywood merger activity seems to be less big-budget films on offer and less US distributors touting on the Croisette.
People aren’t simply throwing money at film making anymore, its more calculated, reasonable and with a full consideration of risk.
Family film genre seems to be a favourite.
Despite the feeling that the festival was quieter than in previous years, the data shows the market is as busy as ever.
The conversation is still happening on how to improve gender representation in the film industry but nothing much has changed since last year.
Everyone is simultaneously fed up thinking about and worrying about the impact of Brexit. In particular on 31st October, in the event of a hard Brexit with no transitional period, we could see cinema admissions drop by 6 million in just 1 year (research from Europa cinemas). 42 UK cinemas in EU backed Europa Cinemas Network would be dropped with immediate effect losing subsidy from Creative Europe.
Melissa Fish of Paper & Chain at Cannes Film Festival 2019