Friday, March 29, 2024

Is Cannes Happening in July, Or Will They Wait til October? amFAR Selling $10,000 Tickets to July Event, But Cannes Lion Goes Digital

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Is the Cannes Film Festival happening in July?

Right now, COVID is running high in France. The country is in lockdown for the rest of April. Americans and other foreigners can’t travel into France unless they can make a case for a health or business emergency. There is a curfew. The French health minister, Olivier Véran, last week banned outdoor gatherings of more than six people and added three more départements, including the area around Lyon, to 16 already placed under tougher mobility restrictions.

Also in France today, an international scandal about “secret” dinner parties in Paris for the rich and famous.

Would seeing films and going to parties be considered an “emergency” reason for visiting the country? Many of us would say ‘oui.’ But the French health officials might disagree. And in Cannes, secret, unmasked parties would be de rigeur. I’m already upset I haven’t been invited to one!

For this reason, Cannes Lions — the advertising agency version of the film festival — has announced it will be digital only this year. It was set for June 21st through the 25th.

Usually the Cannes Film Festival runs for 11 days beginning around May 9th. When things looked bleak a few months ago, the Festival moved to July 6th.

amFAR is taking $10,000 per seat ticket reservations for a live event at the Hotel duCap in Antibes for Friday, July 16th. LOL. First of all, who is spending that kind of money? Second, even if Cannes began on July 6th, by the 16th the place will be a ghost town.

I’ve already reported that the Film Festival has been eyeing a move to October. No one would be against that. It would put the festival in closer proximity to Oscar buzz. They could have the premiere of the James Bond film, “No Time to Die,” which has been waiting to open for more than a year. It makes sense. All over, more movies will be ready to show.

Spike Lee is set to be head of the next jury whenever Cannes happens. But I’m sure even he would be in favor or putting it off til October. He wants everyone to Do the Right Thing.

Roger Friedman
Roger Friedmanhttps://www.showbiz411.com
Roger Friedman began his Showbiz411 column in April 2009 after 10 years with Fox News, where he created the Fox411 column. His movie reviews are carried by Rotten Tomatoes, and he is a member of both the movie and TV branches of the Critics Choice Awards. His articles have appeared in dozens of publications over the years including New York Magazine, where he wrote the Intelligencer column in the mid 90s and covered the OJ Simpson trial, and Fox News (when it wasn't so crazy) where he covered Michael Jackson. He is also the writer and co-producer of "Only the Strong Survive," a selection of the Cannes, Sundance, and Telluride Film festivals, directed by DA Pennebaker and Chris Hegedus.
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