Cannes Film Festival Rumored To Have New Proposal For Netflix To Allow Service To Enter Films In Competition

One of the big stories of 2018 was about Netflix’s feud with the Cannes Film Festival. While the disagreement between the streaming company and the most prestigious film event of the year was big enough, the fallout from the decision by Netflix to pull its films “Roma,” “Hold the Dark,” “22 July,” and “The Other Side of the Wind” had a ripple effect still felt today, as we approach the Oscars in February. And because of this fallout, it appears that Cannes is ready to come to an agreement, if Netflix is able to make one concession.

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According to French journalist Stéphane Boudsocq on Twitter, the film festival is rumored to be ready to make a deal with Netflix that would allow the streaming service to enter its films in competition. However, there is still one big hurdle Netflix would have to jump through to agree to these terms. The reported proposal would include a clause that would say if a Netflix film were to win an award at Cannes, then the streaming service would have to release that film in French theaters. And you see, that’s where things get really, really tricky.

The main sticking point between Cannes and Netflix has nothing to do with the fact that the film festival doesn’t respect the streaming company. Far from it. In fact, in 2017, the festival was at the forefront of allowing Netflix original films to screen in competition. However, that changed when higher-ups at the festival and in the theatrical distribution community in France spoke up about a law that states that any film that screens in French theaters must not hit a streaming service for 36 months after it’s theatrical run. And that’s the big problem because Netflix isn’t going to wait three years to release “Roma” on its service in France if it wins an award at Cannes.

It is important to note that Netflix could bypass the French law by showing its films outside of competition. However, when offered that option last year, the streaming service turned it down. Will they do that in 2019? That’s another compromise that could arise, but with the major fall festivals offering in-competition slots to Netflix, the streamer might be too tempted to just hold off.

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Considering this is a compromise that seemingly is beneficial to both Cannes and Netflix, it would make sense for the streaming service to consider it. However, with that 36-month window law still in effect, it’s hard to consider this a final resolution. Either way, this rumor does point to the fact that Cannes seems to have learned its lesson, as festivals like TIFF and Venice benefit from Netflix in big ways.

And to think, Cannes could have had a Best Picture nominee screen in 2018, if they allowed “Roma” to play in competition.