Is 2023 the coveted ‘normal’ we’ve been desperate to return to? On the international film market scene, at least, there’s certainly strong signs that business is finally back to…well, business. No where does that show as strongly as at this year’s Cannes Film Festival- which looks to have weathered the pandemic and emerged even stronger for it. Your insider expert entertainment lawyer from Blake & Wang P.A, Brandon Blake, is here with all the news from the Marché du Film.
Accreditation Record- And Numbers Still Ticking Up
Although registration for most parts of the festival remains open, the Marché du Film, the biggest international gathering in the film industry, has already hit a record-breaking number of accreditations for the year. Toppling 2019’s 12,500 accredited participants, we already have 13,500 in the bag. With a surprisingly well-received opening for Johnny Depp and Maïwenn’s Jeanne du Barry, the 2023 Cannes Film Festival also welcomes over 510 exhibitors, 60 pavilions in the Village International, and well over 300 sales companies in the Palais des Festivals. Including sidebars, there’s 1,500 market screenings on offer, too.
Who is Returning to Cannes?
The news is great from a global perspective, too. While France, Germany, Spain, Italy, and the UK, alongside the US, still have the highest number of representatives, there’s been an uptick across the board. Including the long-awaited return of both Chinese exhibitors and buyers to the market. Asia and Australia’s representation has increased dramatically, in fact.
Cannes, often called the ‘heart of the film industry’, is a critical barometer for the health of both independent and mainstream markets, so seeing such a pleasant boost in numbers isn’t just about records and figures. It’s a sign of a renewed trust in the health of the film industry. And where there is trust and confidence, the growth and stability the industry needs will follow. With a bustling year for Cannes almost in the bag, there’s still plenty to look forward to in the film market scene- but this was a fantastic way to start the year, for sure.
