The Cannes Film Festival’s Marché du Film is set to launch a new initiative called Cannes Remakes. This initiative is aimed at nurturing remake opportunities for European feature films that have achieved success in their respective home countries. It will involve a pitching session featuring a curated selection of intellectual property (IP) titles with potential from France, Spain, and Italy. Following the pitching session, there will be one-to-one meetings and a networking cocktail event for the invited guests.
Partnership with France’s National Cinema Centre
The Cannes Remakes showcase is being organized in collaboration with France’s National Cinema Centre (CNC), which will host the event on the CNC beach in Cannes on May 20. The selection of films to be featured will be revealed closer to the date of the event. The program is designed to tap into the thriving IP remake market, which has seen significant growth in recent years, largely due to increased investment from global streaming services.
Expanding the IP Market
The Marché du Film Executive Director, Guillaume Esmiol, expressed excitement about the initiative and emphasized that it is not solely focused on English-language remakes. He noted a rising trend of adaptations across various languages and highlighted the appeal of narratives that resonate with diverse cultural nuances. The goal is to expand the IP market in Cannes and provide a platform for IP holders to connect with producers and buyers, thereby unlocking potential business opportunities.
In addition to the partnership with the CNC, the Cannes Remakes initiative has garnered support from Spain’s Institute of Cinematography & Audiovisual Arts (ICAA) and Italy’s Directorate General for Cinema and Audiovisual (DGCA), Ministry of Culture (MiC), and Cinecittà. Jérémie Kessler, Director of European & International Affairs at the CNC, highlighted how the initiative aligns with the organization’s objectives of promoting European IP and supporting free and independent European creation.
Implications for the Film Industry
Remakes have injected a fresh dynamism into the film industry, signaling a notable shift in storytelling approaches. The Cannes Remakes showcase aims to capitalize on this trend and provide a platform for diverse, global storytelling. By showcasing successful European feature films that have been remade across different languages, the initiative seeks to promote the value of cultural diversity in filmmaking and create opportunities for collaboration among industry professionals.
The Cannes Remakes showcase is part of the Marché du Film’s new initiatives, supported by Creative Europe MEDIA. These initiatives aim to drive innovation and collaboration within the film industry, while also highlighting the potential of European feature films on the global stage. By fostering relationships between IP holders, producers, and buyers, the Cannes Remakes initiative is poised to create new avenues for creativity and business growth in the ever-evolving landscape of filmmaking.