Cannes Film Festival Reaffirms One Persisting Trend

Cannes Film Festival represents the epitome of the film festival experience. It boasts old Hollywood glamour (and an even stricter dress code) from one of the most alluring red carpets in the world to larger-than-life premieres like Mission Impossible – The Final Reckoning, one of the hottest tickets in this year’s lineup,

But beyond the silver screen and behind the giant red carpet and gowns, there is a well-attended and robust market centered around the Palais just on the edge of the La Croisette. For nearly two decades, this central meeting hub has provided a space for industry professionals and festival goers alike to educate, discuss and pontificate over networking events, panels and more.

Amy Baker, CEO and co-founder of Winston Baker, has led the development of this programming with the company’s annual International Film Finance Forum in Cannes in partnership with Marché du Film. Winston Baker is a globally recognized entertainment content curator, specializing in strategic solutions across entertainment finance, music, innovation, sports and various pockets of the industry. And as the 15^th annual finance forum, this year’s program did not disappoint. Set on the Festival Main Stage, Baker’s company led candid conversations with thought leaders, established executives and talent to demystify and predict trends in the ever-changing film marketplace.

I had a chance to connect with Baker following the whirlwind market to get her sense of how this year compares in Cannes past. She noted a surprising amount of support for their artificial intelligence panel which focused on China. “In years past, that was not as well attended but this year the crowd showed up with real interest.”

AI topics still appear to be a charged issue within the industry—especially after the strikes of 2023— as attendees often questioned the panel itself and yet inquired about AI uses. Baker says that while there is a “strong interest in figuring out the use of AI,” it is still met with skepticism and concern (with enough hope to reinforce that AI in film is not going anywhere).

After 15 years of hosting this event series, Baker notes that the main change is that the industry “newbies” now bring fresh materials and greater sophistication than in previous years, thanks to increased access to technology.

She is impressed with early creators’ sizzle reels and sample artwork that look “just as good as a studio.”

With newcomer trailers matching the level of those screening in the professional sales booth, how does the industry discern and pinpoint where the talent lies?

View this article at Forbes.