Last year, we wrote about how it was rumored that major changes were coming to the Cannes Film Festival, particularly affecting film critics. After filmmakers, and studios, complained about the impact that poor critical screenings had on films before their public premieres, everyone saw the writing on the wall, with Cannes head honcho Thierry Fremaux even speaking out. Things were about to change.
Well, now the other shoe has officially dropped.
According to a report from Deadline, Fremaux has officially listed the changes to how critics will screen the films at this year’s Cannes. Previously, critics would attend their own screening of a film in the morning, while the public premiere, including the red carpet, would happen later that evening. This would give critics enough time to review a film, with their reviews normally publishing before the public premiere. However, that meant that critics could praise or voice their dislike of a film before the public even got a chance to see it.
Now, the first chance the critics will get to see a film will be at the exact same time as the public, but in a different location. According to the report, for films that screen at 7PM, the public will see the film in the Lumiere theater, and the critics will be given a chance to view the film in the Debussy theater. Unfortunately for critics, if a film is premiering at 10PM, a press screening won’t be held until the following morning.
“It will be total suspense,” Fremaux said, in regards to the changes.
That’s one way to spin it, sure. But honestly, other than inconveniencing critics and delaying the inevitable, the word about the Cannes films will still come out, good or bad.
Last year, Fremaux talked about this issue, explaining why changes needed to be made. “We are living in a new world. The press used to have a screening 24 hours before the public screening because they needed time to write their articles and then for it to be published. Now we are living in 2017, when everything is instantaneous,” Fremaux said. “The atmosphere of the press screening can be awful, everybody knows that, and it’s journalists who complain most about that. So I prefer to have the gala screening with the audience – and that audience can also be very tough – and the press screening [at the same time] and then to compare the two, so it’s a pure world premiere.”
Producer Florence Gastaud, whose film “Redoubtable” saw mixed reviews at last year’s Cannes, said in 2017, “Over the years, the morning press screening at Cannes has progressively gained more and more importance and what comes out of it has an enormous influence on the fate of film… but its disproportionate to what it should really be. Cannes shouldn’t simply be a loudspeaker for the film critics. The festival also has a jury and a public and their reactions should also count for something. With the press screenings going first, it’s as if the press has the exclusivity on passing judgement on the films.”
The press screenings weren’t the only changes made to the festival this year. While film critics will be pulling out their hair to get reviews done as quickly as possible, and their normal schedule is thrown out the window, the filmmakers will also see a change, as well.
We are sad to report that the 2018 Cannes Film Festival will officially ban selfies. That’s right, hold back your tears red carpet attendees, you just won’t be able to take the super awesome #CannesRedCarpet selfie this year.
“With (festival president) Pierre Lescure, we decided to totally ban them. At the top of the red carpet the triviality and slowdown of flow provoked by the disorder of selfies ruins the quality of the red carpet, and thus the festival entirely,” said Fremaux.
We’ll see how the changes work out, when the Cannes Film Festival begins May 8.
