Cannes or Bust!

Stuck for a room for the festival?

Michael Leahy — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 21:16:00 +0000

I'm a little surprised, but there are still some rooms available in and around Cannes for the festival. I did a quick check and came up with three within 5 kilometers. Your best bets are in either Mandelieu or Juan-les-Pins. Click on this hotel selection for an example. But don't be surprised if the link draws a blank first time as rooms are booked. You might have to spread the range further. Good luck.

Quentin Tarantino to give Cannes masterclass

Michael Leahy — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 07:32:00 +0000

Quentin Tarantino is to give a masterclass at Cannes this year. The maker of "Pulp Fiction" and "Kill Bill" is following in the footsteps of Martin Scorsese, Stephen Frears and Sydney Pollack by taking to the stage to talk about film-making. As anyone that watches YouTube knows, Mr T can be outspoken and passionate. So this should be a stimulating event.

This is not the first time Tarantino has spoken at Cannes, as he took to the stage of the open-air cinema a few years back to introduce some classics films.

The Cannes festival and Film Market will be held May 14-25.

Pan-African film fest, April 18-23

Michael Leahy — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 20:04:00 +0000

The other film festival in Cannes, the International Pan-African Film festival, will kick off this year on April 18 with a special reception on the beach of the Noga Hotel. Guests this year include Marie-Ange Banbancourt, Emile Abossolo MBO, Roger Cantin, Wyoma, Oxaï Roura and Serge Diantantu. The line-up includes films from across the African diaspora (notably a strong selection from the US), as well as featuring fashion, music events and workshops on the island of Sainte Marguerite.

MIPTV: International Entertainment Industry at the EMC Kick-Off

Michael Leahy — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 06:32:00 +0000

On Monday 7 April, the Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg and the Entertainment Master Class (EMC) held a reception at MipTV in Cannes to celebrate the official kick-off of the EMC format academy. Guests expected to attend included Julie Bristow (CBC Television, Kanada), Ben Hall (BBC Worldwide), Guillaume de Fondaumière (Quantic Dream), Dr. Thomas Bellut (ZDF), Frank Hoffmann (VOX), Jan Mojto (EOS Entertainment), Dr. Matthias Esche (Bavaria Film International) and many more. EMC is a prestigious event that focuses on building expertise in TV formats within Europe.

Attending screenings at Cannes

Michael Leahy — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 13:15:00 +0000

One of the most recurrent questions we receive this time of the year is, “How can I attend screenings at Cannes?” If you’ve looked around the net, you probably came up with a blank on this one. So here’s the inside deal: there are ways, but it’s not quite the glamorous process you think it is.

The Cannes festival is basically two things: a promotional showcase and a trade market. If you are neither press nor industry, nothing is done to make life easy for you. You should know that even within the accredited press, for example, there is a strict pecking order. Some journalists are definitely favoured over others.

So the simple movie fan that wants to catch a few films has little chance. It is possible to catch movies outside the Palais, usually at smaller venues. The city of Cannes insisted that the festival make some tickets available, and set up the Cannes Cinema body (link below) to handle this. So it is possible to obtain tickets. But the Cannes Cinema site specifies that they are primarily for people with some sort of non-professional connection to movies, such as films clubs, teachers, etc. I know there is some lee-way on this.

If you can’t face the prospect of trying to justify your existence, you could always try your luck picking up tickets early in the morning at the Cannes Cinema booth (in the Pantiero zone) or at the Raimu, Licorne and Studio 13 cinemas. These screenings are not in the main theatre, but do include films from the Quinzaine des Réalisateurs, Official Selection, Un certain regard and Cannes Classics selection. You can’t really choose what to see, as these are basically leftover seats.

Tickets for the Semaine international de la critique can (if you’re lucky and early enough) be picked up at the Espace Miramar (35, rue Pasteur) or with a Cannes Cinéphile badge. Remember, conditions apply and exceptions are regularly made. To quote the Stones, you can’t always get what you want.

Confusing? Just wait until you hit town! Getting to see anything involves a lot of walking from one source of information to another, getting up early and queuing. But you are at Cannes, and might just spot someone half-famous in the street.

The other opportunity is to check the Cinéma de la Plage. I’ve seen quite a few films here, and I think it’s a fun event. A giant screen is placed on the beach close to the Palais and shows a broad selection of art-house films and old classics. Tickets are available from the Cannes Tourist Office on the day.

Having a badge, I have never had to go through most of this process. So I’m hoping that someone with more experience will chip in with some useful information. Good luck!

Link: Cannes Cinema (for the Cinéphile badge).

This article is featured on The Carnival of Cinema.

"We're all white, middle-aged men anyway"

Michael Leahy — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 21:14:00 +0000

Mipim is not really my scene. But the recent article in Britain's The Lawyer still seemed vaguely familiar from having attended so many different Cannes events. On the one hand, you have the sharp players that have everything worked out and know when to schmooze in town and when to whisk the right people out of sight for a quiet "chat". On the other, the people straight off the boat that end up in the bar way too late. If you ever think of bringing a company to Cannes - whether it be for Midem or Mipcom - this gives an idea of how business is done outside the Palais (but don't forget the foot soldiers that can pick up plenty of business inside the Palais - this article doesn't even mention them). Check it out on The Lawyer.

Quote of the week: a certain Tim Jones was invited, but ended up wearing the badge of another Tim Jones. "It doesn't matter, we're all white, middle-aged men anyway." The funny thing is, if you replace the pin-stripes in the article by leather jackets, he could be describing Midem or the festival.

Iron Maiden singer to unveil film at Cannes

Michael Leahy — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 16:06:00 +0000

Looks like it's that time of the year already, when the offbeat and unusual get their headlines by virtue of turning up at Cannes. According to a report in the BBC, Iron Maiden singer Bruce Dickinson will unveil a flm at this year's Cannes festival. "Chemical Wedding" stars Simon Callow as Professor Haddo, the reincarnation of British occultist Aleister Crowley, once described as Britain's most evil man. Julian Doyle, who directed the video for the band's 1988 single 'Can I Play with Madness', co-wrote the script with Dickinson and is directing. The reaction from test screenings are that it is very much in the vein of the Hammer Horror films.

Stuck for a room for Mipim? Try a boat

Michael Leahy — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 22:17:00 +0000

I couldn't help noticing that Reed Midem are offering rooms aboard a liner for Mipim this year. I'm not too sure what to think. Given the extraordinary number of people that attend Mipim, it makes sense to stay in the bay rather than in places as far away as Nice. Plus, boats are romantic (kind of). I've joined Stella Artois when they had luxury liners in the bay. What can I say? One gets used to 5-star treatment after a while! Plus, it really is nice to wake up aboard a boat. The MV Rhapsody is not quite 5-star. But it's still worth considering, with prices from €350 per night per cabin. For details, visit the Mipim Boat.

5 UK property professionals to cycle to Cannes

Michael Leahy — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 11:53:00 +0000

If ever there was an initiative that itself deserves the title "Cannes or Bust", it must be this. Five property professionals from Liverpool in the UK are to cycle to Cannes for Mipim instead of flying. The goal is to raise £500,000 for charity. Covering the 1,500 kms will take them six days. The five are James Tottle (Savills), Barry Crichton (Drivers Jonas), Jon Matthews (HKR), Mark Whittaker (Peel Holdings) and Chris Brown (Igloo Regeneration).

If anyone has a link to this initiative, please post it below.

Advertisers and brands show increased interest in MIPTV

Michael Leahy — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 11:55:00 +0000

MIPTV, the international content fair, was traditionally the hunting ground for everything to to with TV programming. But as other "content" fairs have seen over the past few years, there is increasing spillover from other industries - notably advertising. “The growth of advertising agencies and brands participating at Mip TV Featuring Milia 2008 reflects their sincere desire to join the entertainment content production and distribution players—at a development stage—as strategic partners,” said Paul Johnson of Reed Midem, the convention’s organizer. Companies that have confirmed their presence so far include media groups TBWA, Havas Entertainment, Euro RSCG and Ogilvy, as well as global brands Dove, Nike, American Express, Fanta, Ford, BP and Kodak.

Many are looking to the new formats as a way of reaching new audiences using mobile platforms, while investigating cross-marketing possibilities. A number of conferences will be devoted to the subject, under the "Audiences on the move" banner. Amongst the speakers will be Richard Dickson of Mattel. MIPTV will be held April 7-11. For details about the conference programme, see MIPTV.

McGuinness and that Midem speech

Michael Leahy — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 09:13:00 +0000

The ripples made by U2 manager Paul McGuinness when he called on the Internet providers to share some of the monumental profits he claims are being made on the back of cretive people (notably musicians, although movie makers will soon feel the pinch as well) have travelled the world. The speech's title was clear: "The Online Bonanza: Who Is Making The Money And Why Aren't They Sharing It?" The background is falling music revenue of between 10-17% per year. At the same time, ISPs are openly using the downloading of music as a feature in their ads. So McGuinness wants them to start sharing the profits.

One of the ideas has been a sort of levy on Internet subscriptions. This has met with some resistance, despite the fact that people have accepted levies on blank tapes, CDs and even video recorders in previous years. I pay authors' rights on my cable subscription. Putting one of an ISP is not such a big jump.

Talking to a movie director recently, I said that some people were complaining that as they didn't download music, they shouldn't be asked to pay more for Internet subscriptions. His reply: "That reminds me of the people that say, 'I don't drive at night, why should I have to pay for street lighting?'".

French music sales down (again)

Michael Leahy — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 16:41:00 +0000

On the eve of Midem in Cannes, the French industry body has released worrying figures. "The 2007 fall is between 15 percent and 20 percent probably around 17 percent, with the market for gross sales worth less than 800 million euros," Christophe Lameignere and Herve Rony, respectively chairman and managing director of the country's recording industry body, SNEP, told AFP. This represents a staggering 50% drop since 2002. The drop-off is accounted for by a drop in ringtone sales. In all, the Internet represents just 10% of sales. Although this is increasing, it is doing so less than in previous years.

Former Pink Floyd manager calls for new music business approach

Michael Leahy — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 09:13:00 +0000

On the eve of Midem former Pink Floyd, Marc Bolan and Baaba Maal manager Peter Jenner has called for a new approach to the music business. On the MidemNet blog, Jenner explained the changes that the industry is going through as a move towards "a mass of international niche markets, rather than a world of national mass markets". He called on all the various players (such as labels, managers, publishers and broadband companies) to put aside their differences. "The historical antipathy and baggage that all the sectors carry around with them, combined with their desire to protect their existing businesses, has had the affect of completely frustrating anyone in the new digital distribution business trying to build a new 21st century business legally," he says. This was clear 10 years ago already when the first Internet players began approaching the music business and were largely rebuffed. Mobile companies also spent a lot of time and energy trying to find ways of working with the business, expressing considerable frustration when the tricky issue of rights was raised. Yet these same issues are still largely unresolved, as the regional pricing structures on iTunes demonstrate.

Jenner's solution is not a new one, but is becoming increasingly likely. Given that there is a very definite swing away from paying directly for music, whether it be for downloads or CDs, Jenner echoes many industry insiders in calling for "a solution based on actual consumer behaviour... one that allows access to music in a way that addresses how people engage with music today. A seemingly reasonable solution looks to be a system where each customer with a broadband subscription... would pay a small monthly fee to compensate creators and rights-holders for any unauthorised use of music that might occur via their subscription." He suggests about £2/€2.67 a month. I think the way he puts it as compensation rather than acquisition is wrong, but it is probably the most feasible solution on the table today. One of the unsung heroes of downloading, eMusic.com, is a subscription service, for example.

For the complete article, visit Midemnet Blog.

RailEurope and TGV simplify trains to Cannes

Michael Leahy — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 11:29:00 +0000

TGV has decided to simplify things for people travelling in Europe by train. The Raileurope service will now fall under the banner of TGV, the high-speed network that connects France, Belgium, Germany and Holland. I just had a quick look at the prices from Paris, which range from €43 to about €92 one-way depending on time and the availability of promo prices. The journey takes about 5 hours but has the enormous advantage of bringing you straight to Cannes station, a 10-minute walk to the Palais. So you skip the 40-minute trip from the airport and the extra expense. If you have never taken one, the high-speed trains are a great way to travel. Check for available times here

Smoking ban in Cannes?

Michael Leahy — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 17:51:00 +0000

Heaven for some, hell for others, the smoking ban in cafés, restaurants, "bar-tabacs" and casinos that was introduced in France on January 1 obviously affects Cannes as well. The big question is how vigilantly will it be applied? French cafes and restaurants globally tend to be pretty smoker-friendly. But if a country as strong-headed as Ireland has learnt to comply, I can't see why France can't. On the practical side, Cannes has many terraces that smokers can use. Some of the bars spill into the streets anyway. So smokers can rest assured that there should still be a way to catch a quick puff.

In case you get involved in a discussion with restaurant owners, here are two figures worth remembering: the fine for smoking can be up to €450; and the fine for the owner is €750. Don't expect too much indulgence from them.

Tony Visconti and Laurence Bell to keynote talent event at Midem

Michael Leahy — Mon, 31 Dec 2007 11:05:00 +0000

Midem has decided to showcase even more new talent this year through the Talent Only event. Laurence Bell, head of Domino Records, which signed hit bands such as Franz Ferdinand and the Arctic Monkeys, and Tony Visconti, famed producer of acts including David Bowie, T-Rex and Les Rita Mitsuoko, will be the headline attractions at MIDEM Talent Only during a keynote event on 29 January.

“Thanks to an unrivalled eye for talent spotting, Laurence Bell has succeeded in creating one of the best and most respected independent labels,” said Dominique Leguern, Director of MIDEM. “Tony Visconti has become a legend since producing some of the most emblematic albums of the glam-rock period including those of David Bowie and Marc Bolan. Tony Visconti and Laurence Bell, together for a keynote as part of the MIDEM Talent Only, will be a highpoint for all industry executives concerned with the discovery and development of talent.”

Wi-Fi connections in Cannes

Michael Leahy — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 11:24:00 +0000

It's almost unthinkable to be in Cannes for a few days and not have access to your e-mails. Midem obviously has Internet connections for visitors, although you usually have to stand in a queue. If you want a more accessible connection, you should think about taking a WiFi subscription. SFR is the supplier within the Palais, but I've had no luck finding out how much it costs. The site simply says that you turn your computer on, find the network and follow the payment process (without actually giving a price). The SFR site provides no details. The hotels obviously also have connections you can use. But if you're staying outside town, that doesn't help much during the day.

Amongst the prepaid solutions, the easiest one I could find information about is Orange. They offer 1, 3, 10 and 30 hour packages you can buy in Relay newsagents or online from the Orange site (in French but quite clear). I'll probably opt for the 3-hour option for €10 (with 50% extra for €1 if you purchase before January 15), which should be enough to grab e-mails, work offline and then send them out afterwards. If you have experience using other prepaid WiFi solutions in France, why not drop a line about it in the comments?

Midem deadline fast approaching

Michael Leahy — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 09:26:00 +0000

If you're thinking about attending Midem in Cannes this year, don't wait too long to decide. The Early Bird deadline is on December 21. The price of €805 represents a 25% discount over the walk-in rate. I also did a quick check with hotels and airlines. Most of the hotels in the inner "banana" (the area closest to the Palais in Cannes) are booked. However there are still rooms available in the "residences" outside town at reasonable prices. Shuttle buses are available to reach these. Some cheap flights can still be booked (although I only checked the European airlines flying to Nice airport).

Good luck - and maybe see you down there. For more info and bookings, visit Midem.com.

Rupert Murdoch to address Cannes Lions

Michael Leahy — Sun, 09 Dec 2007 08:48:00 +0000

With a portfolio that goes from the New York Post to MySpace, Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation has managed to maintain a leading role in media across many platforms. The ad agency Young & Rubicam has invited Murdoch to address the Cannes Lions, most likely on how the media industry is changing and in particular the rise of new media.

U2 manager to keynote at Midem

Michael Leahy — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 21:55:00 +0000

In case you haven't noticed, Midem is just a few weeks away. And the latest news is that Paul McGuinness will be giving the keynote address at the first-ever International Manager Summit. Not only has U2 spanned 20 years of success, they have also embraced the new media, kept up as a live act and are still very relevant in today's scene. so to a certain degree, they are doing everything right. This will make McGuinness' address quite interesting for the many people that are asking just how to survive in the new music business landscape. For details, visit Midem.com.

Craig Davis nominated as Cannes Lions Film and Press

Michael Leahy — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 08:40:00 +0000

The worldwide chief creative officer of JWT, Craig Davis, has been nominated president for the Film and Press jury at the Cannes Lions 2008. "The fact that Craig has experienced different cultures, is in a global leadership position and has demonstrated a clear track record of creative achievement makes him ideally suited to be the Cannes Film and Press jury president," said Terry Savage, festival chairman.

Cannes Lions also recently announced the launch of a Design award.

International Luxury Travel

Michael Leahy — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 07:36:00 +0000

Just a quick note to remind anyone wanting to attend the International Luxury Travel Market that November 9 is the last date for pre-booking appointments - by far the most effective way to make any real connections at this business-to-business event. The market runs from December 3-6. Last year, some 1300 hosted buyers attended.

For details, visit the ILTM site.

Record attendance at MIPCOM

Michael Leahy — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 08:18:00 +0000

According to the figures released by Reed Midem in Paris, this year's MIPCOM was the best yet, with 13,371 people attending - 17% more than last year. Significantly, international buyers were up 10% up on last year. Things look good for the "content" business.

Entertainment Master Class launches at Cannes

Michael Leahy — Wed, 10 Oct 2007 16:39:00 +0000

TV is set to remain the most important entertainment format for some time - and certainly if the Entertainment Master Class has anything to do with it. Launched during MIPCOM, this event is intended as a launch pad for new TV production and direction talent. The international format academy is an initiative of the Potsdam-based Erich Pommer Institut and offers worldwide unique training for the development, production, marketing and distribution of programme formatting for entertainment television.

At the opening reception, ITV entertainment boss and member of the EMC Advisory Board, Paul Jackson said: “With the television format business now officially worth billions of dollars worldwide, you could say we are long overdue in having a properly accredited academy where experts in the field can pass on their knowledge and insights on how the business runs. The Entertainment Master Class is the right idea at the right time.”

See Entertainment Master Class for details.

India uses MIPCOM to showcase spectacular growth

Michael Leahy — Mon, 08 Oct 2007 06:41:00 +0000

India's importance as an audiovisual producer has been growing steadily over the past ten years, reflected in the 70+ Indians that are currently at MIPCOM in Cannes. According to The Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), revenues from television industry alone are expected to grow from $4.2 billion to $11 billion by 2011. "The Indian entertainment industry has outperformed the country's economy and is one of the fastest growing sectors," said Amit Mitra, secretary general of FICCI. Two key players - Subhash Chandra of Zee Network and Ronnie Screwvala of the UTV group - spoke of the country's rapidly expanding entertainment landscape on MIPCOM's opening day. The Zee network is widely known amongst the vast Indian diaspora worldwide, and India is already the world's third largest pay-TV market. But producers are looking more closely at building awareness outside this group as well.

NEWS FROM MIPCOM Junior. According to a report in the Hollywood Reporter, although business was brisk at MIPCOM Junior, producers are saying that it is becoming harder to sell new products into the market. In the UK, a downturn in commissions from ITV and BBC is pushing prodcos to look towards international partners at a time when multi-party deals are falling out of favour.

To get live news from MIPCOM, check the live interviews being conducted from MIPCOM by CNBC Europe.