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Targeting Netflix, Cannes Will Ban Streaming-Only Movies From Competition

posted by mrpg on Saturday May 13 2017, @06:03AM   Printer-friendly
from the first-the-talkies-now-the-onlinies dept.

Phoenix666 writes:

Official press release

The Cannes Film Festival is taking a stand against Netflix. Responding to a rumor that the streaming service's Okja, directed by Bong Joon Ho, and The Meyerowitz Stories, directed by Noah Baumbach, would be excluded from awards consideration after being included in the Competition lineup, the festival released a statement clarifying and adjusting its positioning going forward. The short version: From now on, if you want to compete at Cannes, your movie had better be released in French movie theaters—not just online.

There has long been a point of tension between Cannes and Netflix, to the extent where the inclusion of Okja and The Meyerowitz Stories came as a bit of a surprise. Netflix films had previously been snubbed and festival officials had advocated for "discouraging" the streaming service's online-first approach to release. The two movies included in Cannes' lineup this year are slated for theatrical bows stateside, but according to the festival's official statement, "no agreement has been reached" to get the moves into French cinemas and the effort to reach one was made "in vain." However, the statement does clarify that this rule goes into effect next year, so Okja and The Meyerowitz Stories will remain in competition and eligible for the Palme d'Or.

Seems the Cannes Film Festival is less about film and more about an outdated business model.

Original Submission

 
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  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday May 13 2017, @10:40AM (1 child)

    by Anonymous Coward on Saturday May 13 2017, @10:40AM (#509081)

    Netflix opens at least two movie theaters in France

    That's what I'd do. Similarly with the EU ruling that a percentage of content has to be produced in the EU; "Watching Paint Dry -- the movie franchise". I find Cannes insistence that films entered into festival must be released theatrically much less offensive than the EU ruling. If there were demand for this content, either Netflix would enter the market or an EU company would. This is how market forces work, it's not within the remit of governments or failing supranational trade organisations to interfere.

  • (Score: 2) by kaszz on Saturday May 13 2017, @02:17PM

    by kaszz (4211) on Saturday May 13 2017, @02:17PM (#509157) Journal

    I'll hope for your own sake it's pristine French paint.. :-)

    The French government may in the feature consider to strangle Netflix network pipe from the USA.