May 15th 2024.
It was a surprising turn of events at the 77th Cannes Film Festival when Netflix, the popular streaming platform, was revealed to be involved in the opening film. This announcement left audience members in shock, especially considering the public boycott of the festival by Netflix.
The film, titled "Le Deuxième Act", is a dark and satirical comedy directed by French filmmaker Quentin Dupieux. It features a star-studded cast including Léa Seydoux, who also stars in the upcoming James Bond film "No Time to Die", as well as French actors Louis Garrel and Vincent Lindon. The film premiered outside of the competition and was followed by the awarding of an honorary Palme d'Or to Hollywood icon Meryl Streep.
However, the audience was left confused when the Netflix logo appeared on the screen during the film's start and later in the beginning credits. This confusion was audible, with gasps and laughter from the critics and industry members in attendance. But why all the fuss over Netflix?
It turns out that the streaming platform has been in a headline-grabbing boycott with the prestigious French film festival since 2018. This was due to a rule implemented by the festival that all films competing must have a distribution deal in place in France. This effectively banned any films from competing that did not adhere to France's strict 36-month window between theatrical and streaming release.
This rule was a major roadblock for Netflix, known for its day-and-date releases across the world. The festival director, Thierry Frémaux, made the announcement after facing pressure from cinema owners who were upset that Netflix's previous films had skipped a French cinema release.
So why the sudden change of heart by Netflix? Despite the labeling, "Le Deuxième Act" is not a Netflix original or co-production. The streaming platform's logo was only incorporated into the beginning credits as a pre-buy for the French market. The film was showcased alongside all the parties involved in its making, financing, and distribution, including Canal+, which has the first distribution window.
For those eager to see Dupieux's latest film, it will be available on Netflix's French service 15 months after its theatrical release, courtesy of Diaphana Distribution. This is not the first film to be presented at Cannes that was pre-purchased by Netflix in France, as other examples include "Asterix & Obelix: The Middle Kingdom", "Boléro", "Vermines", and Johnny Depp's controversial comeback film "Jeanne du Barry".
A source has clarified that Netflix respects Cannes' rules and their films are not eligible to compete. So it seems like their boycott of the festival's competing and outside competition slots will continue for the time being. In 2018, Netflix's co-CEO Ted Sarandos stated that it didn't make sense for them to screen their films at Cannes under the current rules, as they want their films to be on an equal playing field with other filmmakers.
Sarandos also called the rule "completely contrary to the spirit of any film festival in the world", as the festivals are meant to help films get discovered and distributed. Under the current rule, Netflix would have to hold back their films from French subscribers for three years, which goes against their day-and-date release strategy.
"The Second Act" is a meta-comedy about a young woman's dysfunctional family and her attempts to find a suitable partner. It also features the actors breaking character and arguing with each other, adding an extra layer of humor. The Agency has reached out to both Netflix and Cannes Film Festival for comment on this matter.
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