ASK & DISCUSS INDEX

11 years, 4 months ago - David Maddison

Lots of people go to the SFC at the start to get the poster up, but as Paddy says, there are more people than you can believe doing the same thing and the whole place gets wallpapered. It winds up that nobody's poster stands out, and I'm not sure it's worth the bother of going at the start just for that reason.

If you are looking to sell your short film (and there are a handful of buyers) the better thing to do is to speak to the staff who keep a list of buyers for short films. When you are in Cannes, contact them, or try to get some publicity material to them. That's really your best shot.

SFC is good for three main things. Meeting other people doing a similar thing to you, but as Paddy says it can become a bit dull. Secondly it does a happy hour each day where you can get free booze (although this is an utter stampede). Finally you will get the red "R" on your accreditation badge, which means you can reserve tickets for black tie premieres in the Lumiere.

Neil is right about the dynamic of things being sold at the start and bought at the end. My experience of seeking meetings is that people are more amenable after the first 2-3 days. Their main priority at the start is to sell stuff they've made. Until they've done that they have no money to buy stuff.

If it's your first time though I'd be inclined to go for a bit longer than 3-4 days, just to get properly acclimatised and orientated. It will set you up well for the following years if you learn where everything is.

11 years, 4 months ago - Ben Craig

Hi Louise,

Here's the nutshell answer from CannesGuide.com:

http://www.cannesguide.com/basics/faq/faqdetails.php?id=11

11 years, 4 months ago - Ivo Marloh

Hi Louise,

If you're looking for somewhere to stay, we have a couple of beds available in our flat from Sunday onwards for three days, which will still be a busy time but not as frantic as the first 3 days. Let me know if you're interested.

Thanks!
Ivo

11 years, 4 months ago - Louise Marie Cooke

Thanks Paddy, Neil and David. Some really useful information here. And thanks Neil for the link to your blog, very good tips!

I think for me, as a first time goer its as much about the experience as trying to sell my short so maybe 5/6 days would be best.

If anyone else has any tips and advice bring it on!

11 years, 4 months ago - Neil Oseman

The festival and market are busier at the beginning and get quieter towards the end. People tend to get their business done up front and then go home. So if you're looking to meet potential distributors or financiers for your next project, go towards the beginning. If you want to chill out and chat to other filmmakers, go towards the end. Like Paddy says, 3-4 days is about right. You may find my blog about my own Cannes Short Film Corner experiences helpful: http://neiloseman.com/?p=4825

11 years, 4 months ago - Paddy Robinson-Griffin

5-6 days is a long time in Cannes if you're not doing anything specific. The SFC is all people like you, but even more desperate to get people to watch their shorts than you'll believe. Problem is that shorts are just not attractive to industry buyers so the bulk/whole of your audience is the 'wrong' people, and the SFC area is busy yet still manages to be quite dull, somewhere deep inside the market. If you stayed there for the whole festival period you would go nuts. Maybe you'll watch some other shorts or market films, but when that gets old, you're just wondering round an expensive bit of an expensive city. I'd suggest going for any shorter period maybe 3-4 days for the experience and maybe meet new friends, but when a soft drink in a hotel costs more than 2 pints in London, you don't need to spread your budget as thinly and can enjoy it more.

In answer though, there aren't any particularly good or bad days.

11 years, 4 months ago - Anita Moukkes

Hi Louise, I would go for the entire first weekend and 2 days more to take full advantage of the 'buyers meet' in the mornings and the Happy Hour and seminars in the late afts. Worldwide festival programmers and other significant global opps execs give talks on various topical subjects so be sure to bring at least 300 biz cards ! In between your screenings etc take advantage of your pass to visit the Uk Pavilion and take in the seminars and opps to meet UK Execs who you might be asking for funding from one day ! Getting into Cannes as part of SFC may be your only chance for a while to sample everything this incredible fest has to offer for free so do maximise your 5 days - SFC is a great way to start !! PS lots of 'national film commissions' drinks parties have 'buffet / snacks' so if you blag any invites (Moving Picts magazine has a cocktail corner list at the back of their daily broadsheet... ) you can save money on meals and get very decent street food or pizza off the main Croissette - best of luck :))

11 years, 4 months ago - Charles Harris

Hi Louise

You don't want to be there at the very start as all the people you want to talk to will be busy selling their own material.

The festival starts on the Wednesday, so give them time to settle down and aim to travel down late Thursday or very early Friday (to take advantage of the cheapest flights) and to be ready for action on the Friday,

Then you'll be warmed up for the weekend, which is the busiest period, as many producers only come down for those two days.

Many of the appointments you make beforehand, or try to make when you're there, will get put back, so you'll need the Monday and probably the Tuesday for catching up.

By the second Wednesday things will be winding down, so don't expect much to happen. I'd pack up around then. But you'll be completely spark out - so allow at least two days afterwards with nothing planned so you can collapse!

Personally, I always feel that having travelled to one of the loveliest places in the world, it's a shame to rush back, so I spend those two days elsewhere on the Riviera in a much cheaper hotel (preferably close to a beach).

Then allow a couple of days back home for downloading all the business cards and other contacts you've gained. Enjoy!

PS: I found the best way to get a good cheap hotel was to use the local syndicat d'initiatif - though sometimes you get the best deals by talking to them when you're there.

Charles

11 years, 4 months ago - AndBut Films

Daily rates for accommodation in Cannes are such that it is much more cost effective to stay for the whole time and share an apartment than to go for just a few days -- if you can afford to take that much time off.

Let us know if you are looking for apartment shares.

filmpartners@andbut.co.uk