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Cannes 2023. It`s a Wrap
I had the privilege of attending the Cannes Film Festival 2023 along with three other members of Alliotts’ Media Team: David Gibbs, Sam Ampah, and Lizzie Bennett. The event is a must-attend for all professionals within the industry, including producers,... Read more
I had the privilege of attending the Cannes Film Festival 2023 along with three other members of Alliotts’ Media Team: David Gibbs, Sam Ampah, and Lizzie Bennett. The event is a must-attend for all professionals within the industry, including producers, distributors, and financiers. Spending a few days in the former fishing village of Cannes allowed us to connect with fellow players in the field. The networking opportunities were unparalleled; the connections made, and meetings held during this short period would have taken months to achieve back home.
During the festival, I once again met with a financier who works near our Covent Garden office and looks after several of our clients, this is the fourth year that we’ve met in Cannes. Despite our best efforts, we haven’t had a face-to-face meeting in London over that time. It must be that Cannes magic.
The film and television sectors are experiencing a tremendous boom, providing a high-energy and turbocharged backdrop for the festival. This is particularly true for professionals from the UK, given the sector’s importance to the country’s economy. There’s been substantial support for the sector from Rishi Sunak and Chancellor of the Exchequer, Jeremy Hunt. In this year’s budget, Hunt confirmed the UK’s commitment to the Film and High-End Tax Credit regime. In 2022 alone, the UK distributed over £1 billion in tax credits.
Apart from the business aspect, Cannes showcased hundreds of movies, shows, and documentaries, including several high-end and high-profile features. Notable films included Martin Scorsese’s “Killers of the Flower Moon,” Harrison Ford’s hat wearing return in “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny,” and Johnny Depp’s comeback in “Jeanne du Barry.” Cannes has become a launching pad for the Oscar season, with previous premieres leading to tremendous success for “Elvis” and “Triangle of Sadness.”
To wrap up I would like to express my gratitude to the people we met at Cannes and the time we spent together. I’d like to give special thanks to the industry organisations that contribute significantly to the success of the UK film sector, namely the British Film Commission, Film London, Production Guild, and the British Film Institute.