The 73rd Cannes Film Festival was originally scheduled to be held from May 12 to 23
1905 movie network feature "We have a tradition that Cannes is the first sign of summer."The artistic director of the Cannes International Film Festival, Fermat, recently expressed the hope that the epidemic will end as soon as possible in mid-May, and the festival will be held as scheduled from May 12 to May 23. But judging from the current situation, such an idea is too optimistic.
In addition to Cannes, several recent film festivals originally scheduled to be held in March, April and May have been postponed or cancelled,Including the French Real Film Festival, the South by Southwest Film Festival, the Tribeca Film Festival, and the Miami Film Festival.So far, the official statement of the Cannes Film Festival Organizing Committee is:The cancellation or postponement will not be announced until at least April 15, the eve of the announcement of the entry list.
Why is Cannes still "struggling"?
It was first rumored to be because of the insurance premium. If cancelled, a French insurance company could compensate 2 million euros, but the organizing committee of the Cannes Film Festival has refused. However, this year’s festival’s operating budget is 32 million euros, which is not a big deal for Cannes.The president of the festival, Pierre Lescule, also said that even if it is cancelled, it will have little impact on the financial operation of the festival itself, because the festival has certain reserves and fund support.
Cannes Artistic Director Fumau (left) and President Lescule (right)
The main reason is still to go back to the movie itself.
As one of the largest international film festivals in the world, there are not only red carpets and starlight, but also hundreds of new films from all over the world participate in competitions and screenings every year, especially for art films, where you can enjoy large-scale international exposure and discussion.
Last year, for example, Diao Yinan’s directorship and Hu Ge’s starring role were shortlisted for the main competition, and the new director’s work also received praise in the parallel section. With the help of the Cannes platform, these new Chinese-language films first earn enough popularity overseas, which is also good for the promotion of their release in China.
At the same time, thousands of films are also traded in the Cannes Film Market for international sales of copyrights and distribution every year.For example, Jia Zhangke’s works in 2015, which were shortlisted for the main competition unit in Cannes that year, cost about 40 million yuan, and the cost has been recovered through overseas copyright sales on platforms such as the Cannes market on the eve of domestic release.
2019 Cannes Film Palace
The entire Cannes Film Festival team is still working on contingency measures, such as limiting the number of spectators in cinemas and other venues. But the French government has announced a law-wide ban on gatherings of more than 100 people.According to statistics, the Cannes Film Festival attracted about 60,000 participants every day last year. If the ban continues until May, how can the festival scale down the event to meet the standards? Then how many people are willing to take the risk to participate in the event?
If cancellations are confirmed, a number of international studios and agencies have also agreed to jointly create an online marketplace in early May, including promoting new films to buyers, showing flowers or samples, etc. However, such remedial measures will still affect market transactions.
The Cannes International Film Festival has been cancelled three times since its first edition in 1946.It was suspended in 1948 and 1950 due to financial difficulties, and in 1968 due to the impact of the "May storm", when Truffaut, Godard and other French New Wave directors jointly blocked the screening of the film, and the festival was forced to suspend.
Directors such as Truffaut and Godard block Cannes film screening
Half a century later, the number of new films produced has increased sharply year by year. If it is cancelled this year, it will be difficult for many films originally scheduled to appear in Cannes to compete with other new films and squeeze into subsequent film festivals, such as the Venice and Toronto film festivals. If it is postponed, it will be difficult for Cannes to find a suitable time to resume.
So the question of what to do now is to point the debut stage to Cannes or other major films at festivals that have been postponed or cancelled.
Chinese Discourse
First of all, from the perspective of Chinese films, there are three major directors’ new works poised for release:Xu Anhua’s, Tian Zhuangzhuang’s and Zhang Yimou’s.
Adapted from a classic novel by Zhang Ailing and starring Ma Sichun and Peng Yuyan, "First Incense" has attracted much attention in the industry. The film was completed in mainland scenes at the end of July last year, and its first stills were also exposed at the Berlin Film Festival at the beginning of the year.
Xu Anhua’s work has never been shortlisted for the Cannes Film Festival, but judging from her past experience in other film festivals,"First Incense" is more likely to go to the Venice Film Festival.
"The First Incense" Peng Yuyan stills
Tian Zhuangzhuang’s "Birdsong" was completed in January this year. This is his new work after a decade of absence from directing. In addition, the film is adapted from Acheng’s novel "King of Trees", and the other two "Three Kings" novels have been adapted into movies, so the outside world has high expectations for this film.
Last year, Tian Zhuangzhuang brought his old 1988 film to the Cannes Classic Restoration Unit, and Fu Mao personally presided over the pre-screening activities. According to this friendship,If the quality of "Birdsong" is reliable, the Cannes Film Festival will not be cancelled, and it is very likely to be selected for a certain section.
Director Tian Zhuangzhuang
"Solid as a Rock" has been submitted for review after the National Day last year, but there has been no release news."Solid as a Rock" is Zhang Yimou’s first attempt to shoot a police and bandit action movie. According to the director himself, the film’s screen is very unique and has the cold style of a modern city.
The last time Zhang Yimou went to Cannes was in 2014 with his participation in the screening. "Solid as a Rock" has been in the confidential stage, and it is still unknown whether it has been delivered to the film festival. His next new work was still filmed in the Northeast Snow Township at the end of December last year, and there is no news on whether it was stopped by the epidemic.
Mai Junlong directs the works that are currently the most highly anticipated in the industry and are headed for Cannes or other international film festivals.The starring lineup is super luxurious, and it gathers powerful actors such as Takeshi Kancheng, Liang Jiahui, Liu Qingyun, Koo Tianle, and Gao Yuanyuan. It was cut at the end of July last year, and it is said that the amount of post productin is very large.
Director Zhang Ming was shortlisted for the 2018 Cannes Film Festival Director’s Fortnight, his new love suspense film"Hot Soup."Then it appeared in the trading market of the Berlin Film Festival at the beginning of the year, and it should continue to move towards other international film festivals.
Mei Feng won the best screenplay in the main competition at Cannes, directing a new work"Love Song 1980"Starring Li Xian and Chunxia, some samples were completed last year, with a strong literary temperament and the opportunity to participate in Cannes. And the new director works starring Wan Qian and Huang Jue"Rabbit Violence"It is also expected by the industry. Will it be the next "Spring River Plumbing" to go international?
Sino-Japanese co-filming and also want to find its audience through Cannes or other international film festivals."Yanagawa" was completed at the end of January this year, starring Ni Ni, Zhang Luyi, Xin Baiqing, Ikimatsu Zhuangliang, Nakano Yoshiko, etc. Director Zhang Lu is a regular at major film festivals.
"Yanagawa" stills
The film "Nara Again" about an old Chinese woman looking for a Japanese orphan and adopted daughter is produced by two directors, Jia Zhangke and Kawase Naomi. As old friends of Cannes "direct", it is not unreasonable for them to support the new director Peng Fei to enter Cannes.
In addition to these new Chinese films, Wong Kar-wai’s classic this year coincides with the 20th anniversary of its release. The film had its world premiere in the main competition section of the 2000 Cannes Film Festival, and Tony Leung also won the Best Actor Award.
Cannes officials previously announced that the 4K restored version of "In the Mood for Love" will be unveiled in the classic restoration unit, and Wong Kar-wai will also attend the screening.If the Cannes Film Festival is cancelled, the 4K restoration of "In the Mood for Love" will have to find the next premiere platform.
Overseas
For overseas films, several blockbuster new titles from Asia, Europe, and the United States have long been locked into the main competition at Cannes.
Wes Anderson’s is similar to last year’s, but the stars will be brighter,With Bill Murray, Tilda Swinton, Francis McDormand, Leia Seydoux, Sweet Tea, Saoirse Ronan and dozens of other internationally renowned actors co-starring, no film could be more suitable for the opening of the Cannes Film Festival.
"Mission to France" stills
French director Leo Carrax’s previous film was recently selected as one of the 10 best films of the 2010s by the Cinema Handbook.His new film, Annette, is a musical and his first English film.Starring Adam Driver and Marion Cotillard, it is arguably the most watched film of the year and the top choice at Cannes.
Adam Driver in the post-production studio of Annette
Thai director Apichatpong won the Palme d’Or a decade ago, and this year is the latest collaboration with Tilda Swinton"Memory."The film is currently in its later stages, and Jia Zhangke’s film company has also participated in the production of this film.
Tilda Swinton
In addition, the Palme d’Or director Nanni Moletti’s "Three Floors" and Lauren Guntai’s "Arthur Rambo" were also selected for the main competition.
Cannes "familiar faces" Naomi Kawase’s "Dawn is Coming", Dumont’s "It’s Half Clear This Morning", Ojung’s "85 Midsummer", Sophia Coppola’s "On the Rocks" and Paul Van Hoeven’s "Our Lady" are also pointing at Cannes.
Leia Saidu in "It’s Half Clear This Morning."
If the Cannes Film Festival is cancelled, what other new films will we miss?
I only hope that the epidemic can pass as soon as possible, as Fu Mao wished: "This year’s Cannes Film Festival will be the first international event to celebrate life, praise life, and regenerate."I also hope that all future film festivals can be held smoothly and continue to showcase more outstanding films to us.
关于作者