Written by The Location Guide on Mar 19, 2020. Posted in General Interest

The Big Question

Coronavirus is leading to daily cancellations of festivals, events and filming so one of the big questions at the moment is what will happen to Cannes Film. For now it is still a definitely, possibly, maybe.

Yesterday saw the 74th Edinburgh International Film Festival postponed, Glastonbury Festival cancelled and the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity delayed until October.

So will the Cannes Film Festival go ahead? The general feeling in the industry at the moment is no.

However, there is some positive news. Leading independent film companies are partnering up to offer a virtual market in the event that the Cannes Film Festival, and its business counterpart the Marché du Film, is cancelled.

Led by the Hollywood agency CAA, the idea is being supported by Endeavour Content UTA, and ICM Partners.

The first wave of sales companies agreeing to be part of the initiative includes Lionsgate International, Miramax, Protagonist, Studio Canal and Wild Bunch.

If Covid-19 were to eat into the film markets that happen later in the year, then film companies could also use the idea of the virtual market.

It is still a contingency plan but if it does goes ahead it would offer screenings, buyer presentations from film makers and talent, video conferencing meetings and sizzle reel screenings.

The deal making wouldn’t be confined to agency packages and there wouldn’t be a registration fee to take part.

It could also include screenings that have been selected to take part in any scaled back version of the festival.

Travel restrictions permitted the screenings could take place in cities across Europe, the Americas and Asia or they could happen online.

Equally, if Covid-19 were to eat into the film markets that happen later in the year then film companies could also use the idea of the virtual market.

The idea appears to be gathering momentum and a number of international buyers are already aware of the plan. The idea is not about replacing the Cannes market in the future as nothing can replace the face to face meetings you can do at meetings but it is a way of keeping the business going as usual.

Watch this space...