4 ms·

The entire purpose of Cannes is to showcase films which need distribution. It’s pointless to show films there which have already secured distribution. It’s wort

The entire purpose of Cannes is to showcase films which need distribution. It’s pointless to show films there which have already secured distribution. It’s worth noting that the films shown there can be and are purchased for distribution by Netflix, Amazon, etc.

philliphaydon 9y ago
I donno about Cannes Film Festival, but Cannes Lions it mostly a circle jerk award full of fake adverts. Do the 2 have any relation or only in name?
- ggg9990 9y ago
  They have no relation. Cannes Lions (successfully) used the non-protectable Cannes name to imply some connection.
  - philliphaydon 9y ago
    Ok, good to know.
  - namdnay 9y ago
    It's quite an interesting symbiotic relation. The film festival is very expensive for the town of Cannes (and a complete nightmare for all of us living in the region), but it also fuels the prestige that lets Cannes host dozens of these less known but far more profitable events: MIPIM, MIDEM, Lions, Yachting...
cornholio 9y ago
But we have to ask this question: what will the future hold for this distribution model, in a long tail world where small producers can monetize their productions directly, using online platforms such as Netflix? If this alternative market thrives, how long until traditional theaters switch to acquire performance rights directly from the producers, using specialized, low friction marketplaces? While I agree in principle to the decision of the festival organizers, it's hard not to observe an outdated business model fighting for its own survival.
- ggg9990 9y ago
  Distribution is even more important in a long tall world. There is so much great stuff on YouTube now that I rely on blogs and other intermediaries to tell me what’s worth watching. Similarly for movies I look to places that tell me what is worth watching. Distribution is getting the film in front of people through theaters, advertising, reviews, etc.
mseebach 9y ago
> The entire purpose of Cannes is to showcase films which need distribution This seems like one of these things that were probably nominally true all along, but that everybody were very happy to forget as Cannes became a super-prestigious celebration of the art of cinema, but then gets dug up when it's convenient to keep the arriviste on the outside. I mean, if Cannes is just an industry trade show, it certainly isn't justified that media from across the world (including public service media) sends their top arts reviewers out at great expense?
- majewsky 9y ago
  Why would I not want to have media representatives (including public service media) at an industry trade show? Things like "the newest trends from CES" are generally considered newsworthy.
- namdnay 9y ago
  There are actually two parallel events. The "festival du film" and the "marché du film". The former is for the show, and is not concerned with distribution in any way. The latter is where the money is made - a trade show where films are partnered with distributors.

philliphaydon 9y ago

I donno about Cannes Film Festival, but Cannes Lions it mostly a circle jerk award full of fake adverts. Do the 2 have any relation or only in name?

ggg9990 9y ago
They have no relation. Cannes Lions (successfully) used the non-protectable Cannes name to imply some connection.
- philliphaydon 9y ago
  Ok, good to know.
- namdnay 9y ago
  It's quite an interesting symbiotic relation. The film festival is very expensive for the town of Cannes (and a complete nightmare for all of us living in the region), but it also fuels the prestige that lets Cannes host dozens of these less known but far more profitable events: MIPIM, MIDEM, Lions, Yachting...

cornholio 9y ago

But we have to ask this question: what will the future hold for this distribution model, in a long tail world where small producers can monetize their productions directly, using online platforms such as Netflix? If this alternative market thrives, how long until traditional theaters switch to acquire performance rights directly from the producers, using specialized, low friction marketplaces? While I agree in principle to the decision of the festival organizers, it's hard not to observe an outdated business model fighting for its own survival.

ggg9990 9y ago
Distribution is even more important in a long tall world. There is so much great stuff on YouTube now that I rely on blogs and other intermediaries to tell me what’s worth watching. Similarly for movies I look to places that tell me what is worth watching. Distribution is getting the film in front of people through theaters, advertising, reviews, etc.

mseebach 9y ago

> The entire purpose of Cannes is to showcase films which need distribution This seems like one of these things that were probably nominally true all along, but that everybody were very happy to forget as Cannes became a super-prestigious celebration of the art of cinema, but then gets dug up when it's convenient to keep the arriviste on the outside. I mean, if Cannes is just an industry trade show, it certainly isn't justified that media from across the world (including public service media) sends their top arts reviewers out at great expense?

majewsky 9y ago
Why would I not want to have media representatives (including public service media) at an industry trade show? Things like "the newest trends from CES" are generally considered newsworthy.
namdnay 9y ago
There are actually two parallel events. The "festival du film" and the "marché du film". The former is for the show, and is not concerned with distribution in any way. The latter is where the money is made - a trade show where films are partnered with distributors.