The war between the Cannes Film Festival and Netflix isn’t without casualties. Lost in the shuffle of the debate between Cannes and Netflix about the future of cinema are the films that were all thought to take part in the event but are now left in the dust. One of those is the Orson Welles film “The Other Side of the Wind.” And now, the late-filmmaker’s daughter has entered the fray with her own thoughts on the debate.
In an email that was sent to Netflix executive Ted Sarandos (via Variety), Beatrice Welles wrote, “I was very upset and troubled to read in the trade papers about the conflict with the Cannes Film Festival. I have to speak out for my father.”
“I saw how the big production companies destroyed his life, his work, and in so doing a little bit of the man I loved so much,” Beatrice continued. “I would so hate to see Netflix be yet another one of these companies.”
As mentioned previously, “The Other Side of the Wind” was going to be one of several films that Netflix intended on bringing to Cannes. The film was shot in the 1970s but was left unfinished. However, with financing from Netflix, the film recently completed its post-production and is getting a release on the streaming service.
Beatrice Welles finished her email with a plea to Netflix, “Please reconsider and let my father’s work be the movie that bridges the gap between Netflix and Cannes.” Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem like the email had any effect on Sarandos and Netflix, as they eventually did announce their plans to not show any films at the festival.
She also sent an email to Cannes director Thierry Fremaux, who did reply to the filmmaker’s daughter, calling ‘Wind’ “an extraordinary film. Much more than a historical film. A message from Orson Welles to the world of cinema today.”
Even though recent statements by Cannes seem to indicate that the discussions could be ongoing between the streaming service and the festival, it doesn’t look like Orson Welles’ final film will get the premiere that it deserves.