The
Cannes Films Festival is a spectacular place. It is largest distribution and
sales market for films in the world. This year I experienced it for the first
time. Guapa Films had the honor of World
Premiering its first production at the Short Film Corner ‘Alma & Alex’.
Arriving
at Cannes my expectations were high. I anticipated what it would be like to be
bombarded by the media, to experience the glamour of the stars on the Red Carpet
and to walk along the streets where so many legends had walked before. The
sights alone of Nice, Cannes and Antibes are breath taking so the festival
could only be that much bigger and better.
A
few days before the festival, I ventured out to survey the magnitude of what
was about to hit the city of Cannes. Although,
there were some preparations being made, the city was calm, people went about
their normal day to day activities. The beaches had regular bathers
catching up on their daily sun. The weather; warm, sunny –not a cloud in the
sky - was magnificent!!
Luckily,
I listened to the voice of reason inside my head and picked up my accreditation badges early and
waited the first day of the festival. (Once the festival started, it was crazy. Lines were LONG!)
Finally
the first day! I hit the day
running. As part of the Producers’
Network I had signed up for a series of workshops run by the festival. Everyday, I headed to the Palais (the main
center where the festival houses all the sales agents, distributers, Short Film
Corner, Lecture Hall, Press Room, and the main Theater houses The Debussy &
The Grand Lumiere) – The Red Carpets go up from the outside into these two
theater houses.
My
days were long. I learned so much from established industry professionals who
stressed the importance of good storytelling, integrity in the business and taking your time.
Networking
was an essential part of the trip. The
Producers Network, American Pavilion, and Pantiero and Riviera became my daily “hotspots” for social
gatherings, parties, and invitations.
Selecting
where to go became a roulette game of chance and opportunity. It was a pleasure
attending parties at coveted locales such as, The Hotel Du Cap, The Majestic,
The Grand Hotel, Club Silencio, and The Martinez.
Of
course, the experience worth taking was walking the Red Carpet. I was able to
reserve tickets to two Red Carpet films. ‘Heli” by Amat Escalante and ‘The
Immigrant ‘ by James Gray both which premiered at the Grand Lumiere.
Ah!
I have to mention that walking the Red Carpet in the RAIN & COLD that
started the first day of the festival was NOT fun! Those few days before when
the sun was shinning in France was just a trick! The
Everyday
I would spend a chunk of time at the Court Metrege – Short Film Corner promoting ‘Alma
& Alex’. I would distribute our
flyers, Q&A our film to viewers and track comments. Also I watched other filmmaker films. It
was a great way to network!
‘Alma
& Alex’ received great attention despite not being in completion or a
contender for review. It
was watched by two distributers and was reviewed!
There
was another similar film presented at The Corner. When viewers were asked which film presented
better, ‘Alma & Alex’ took the vote!
Now
that I am back, a few folks have asked, “Have you gotten what you went to
Cannes for?”
Guess my answer has to be - No. You see, I didn’t go to Cannes to “get” anything. I went there to give something.
Staying open to the possibilities there is so much more I can give.
So, onwards…
Katherine
Dickson
Guapa
Films
©GuapaFilms™
