Cannes Reflections

Here I sit in Nice Airport with a large beer, thinking back on the flurry of activity of the last twelve days. As the thing winds down, people start asking you, “Was it a good festival for you?” which forces you to think, “Well, was it?” Yeah, I think it was. I made well over a hundred new friends, which one could call “connections”. (My business card file holds 120 cards, and it’s over-flowing.) I directed a short film in 24 hours that was the first runner up in the 24 hour film challenge. I did a long interview for a French film magazine in French that will be part of a documentary on the DVD that comes shrink-wrapped with it. I firmly established myself as a director, especially among British filmmakers. I was told several times, in earnest, that I was an excellent director, both by people who saw my films and those who acted in the challenge. I struck an alliance between two film festivals, and helped establish the new venue for next years FCIA in Grasse. I got into many impossible to get into parties, including the Cloture AND the Palm D’Or last night. I got even more fluent in French - learned to use the word ‘soif’; discovered a secret, private, piano bar, AND found at least a couple of producers who are interested in doing my feature film, “Valley of Sin”.

I also missed some important screenings, got sucked into some non-productive activities, disappointed some people who were expecting me to get them into parties, and didn’t do nearly as much business as I would have liked. But you take what you can get. Cannes is all about possibilities. Every corner you turn can put you into a whole new set of opportunities; and every festival, you get just a little bit better at mustering your resources and understanding what the hell’s going on. In a few more years, I should have it pretty well figured out.

It was great seeing all of you - my friends new and old. A Bientot!

NOTE: Cannes isn't really ALL parties. That's just where you tend to take the most pictures.