Cannes Film Festival: Highlights and Insights
It’s almost a wrap, folks! The Cannes Film Festival is drawing to a close for another year. Jesse Whittock with you again to run through the second week headlines from the Croisette and further afield. Sign up for the newsletter here.
Cannes Closer
Over to Zac Ntim in Cannes… Nearly there: The frontrunners for this year’s Palme d’Or are Joachim Trier’s Sentimental Value, Kleber Mendonça Filho’s Secret Agent, and Sound of Falling, the second film from Mascha Schilinski. All three are excellent films of gigantic emotional and philosophical scope, making waves among critics. My money is on Trier’s film, which is the most complete competition title seen at Cannes, earning a remarkable 19-minute ovation.
Significantly, all three films have distribution deals with Mubi . The streamer is now firmly in the distribution game , securing deals for other Cannes titles like Die My Love and The History of Sound. American distributor Neon has also carved out a substantial portion of the Cannes pie, locking deals for films including Trier’s Sentimental Value and Jafar Panahi’s It Was Just an Accident.
This year presents a unique challenge for distributors , particularly with darker entries like Lynne Ramsay’s Die My Love, featuring Jennifer Lawrence and Rob Pattinson, likely needing a careful marketing strategy leading up to release. As Cannes wraps up its festivities this Saturday, follow updates to see who will take home awards and more breaking news from the Marché.
Stunt Biz Exposé
Moving on, Jake has shared a cautionary tale about Casey Michaels, a former stuntwoman who was projected for tremendous success. However, her journey was derailed after a devastating ankle injury on the set of Game of Thrones in 2019. After a lawsuit, HBO acknowledged its liability and compensated Michaels £7M ($9.3M).
This interview, her first concerning the injury, serves as a dire warning that the stunt community continues to neglect safety. A leaked email from a leading UK safety official indicated that the industry might be “sleepwalking” towards a future on-set fatality due to organizational deficiencies. This revelation serves as a sobering reminder of the stakes involved in the stunt profession.
Mediawan’s Moment
Next in the spotlight is Mediawan , which has emerged as a pivotal player in the European production landscape. This company has extended its reach into the U.S. by acquiring Brad Pitt’s Plan B Entertainment and has also made a significant deal with See-Saw Films in the UK, valued at around £100M ($134M).
Despite its rapid growth, the industry knows surprisingly little about Mediawan compared to French giants like Banijay or Studiocanal . As part of Deadline’s insightful project, Jake delves deeper into Mediawan’s ambitions, highlighting their active role in producing acclaimed content. With notable productions like Netflix’s Adolescence and Bono: Stories of Surrender , the company continues to disrupt the traditional landscape of entertainment.
Breaking Baz @ Cannes
Meanwhile, the charismatic Baz Bamigboye has been a regular presence at the vibrant beach parties of the Croisette, mingling with celebrated figures like Spike Lee, Nicole Kidman, and Cuba Gooding Jr. His recollections of interactions with stars over the decades provide a unique perspective on celebrity culture at Cannes.
Through lively tales, Baz reflects on the intricacies between mega-stardom and the industry, revealing cheeky methods for accessing exclusive parties, a testament to his remarkable network. His dispatches encapsulate the essence of Cannes, featuring personalities from Akinola Davies Jr. to Wendell Pierce .
Gary Lineker Accelerates Exit
In notable entertainment news, BBC’s iconic host Gary Lineker is set to exit earlier than planned after a tumultuous relationship with management surrounding his social media activity. Following a controversial post regarding the Israel-Gaza conflict that contained antisemitic undertones, Lineker has decided to step back, marking the conclusion of an era as he prepares to present his last episode of Match of the Day this Sunday.
This decision led to public debates within the broadcasting community, highlighting the intricate balance between a broadcaster’s public image and a presenter’s freedom of expression. This incident emphasizes the ongoing conversations around accountability and ethics in media.
The Essentials
In the realm of fresh content, noteworthy mentions include:
🌶️ Hot One: A documentary series focused on Wayne Gretzky’s Edmonton Oilers is in the works, produced by Ryan Reynolds’ Maximum Effort.
🌶️ Another One: Marco Calvani , star of The Four Seasons , is co-writing and directing his second feature film, Capitana .
🌶️ A third: The popular U.S. medical drama Doc will see a Mexican remake featuring Juan Pablo Medina .
🏠 In-house: Channel 4 is ramping up its self-produced programming efforts, marking a significant shift in the UK television landscape.
🏛️ BBC latest: Former Banijay UK leader Patrick Holland has stepped down from the race to become BBC Chief Content Officer.
🗡️ Cuts: ITV is eliminating over 220 positions as part of a strategic overhaul of its daytime schedule.
🚪 Exiting: Kids TV pioneer Paul Robinson will depart from Kartoon Channel Worldwide .
💬 Conference: Germany’s Seriencamp has announced a full program featuring speakers from Mediawan and other significant entities.
🏪 New Shop: Yôsuke Kubozuka is set to star in Gomusin , a collaborative film between Japan, the UK, and South Korea.
🍿 Box Office: Final Destination: Bloodlines debuted with a remarkable $102M global gross over the weekend.
Zac Ntim contributed to this week’s Insider. It was written by Jesse Whittock and edited by Stewart Clarke.