Year 2014 could be the year for China to have its monopoly at The Cannes Film Festival. Well Chinese Executives are expected to be in Cannes in record numbers this year and the Cannes Market is making sure that they have plenty to do.
“We expect Chinese executives to be the fourth or fifth biggest national group in Cannes when the final numbers come in, Last year they were eighth.” said Cannes Market Chief, Jerome Paillard.
By the beginning of May 2014 over three hundred Chinese Executives had registered with the Cannes Market and with late sign ups and on the spot registrations the total is expected to go up to about four hundred.
China is now the world’s second largest theatrical market, there film industry has only been liberalised since 2001 and it is still evolving.
Jerome Paillard further stated, “There is not particularly a growth in the number of Chinese buyers, but we see lots of producers registering, lots of institutions and large numbers of investment and technology participants.”
The Cannes Market has made significant efforts to encourage the Chinese Industry. In early March it held a series of master classes in Beijing with speakers including Jean-Jacques Annaud.
At the end of March it returned to China to host four days of pitching and coaching workshops with local producers, distributors and financiers.
Coming week the Cannes Market hosts the second running of its New Chinese Film Talents Fund Forum. This will give eight Chinese filmmakers a platform to present their projects to sales agents, financiers and potential co-producers.
Additionally, the Opening Night Reception, on Thursday May 15, 2014 will be dedicated to China, celebrating the country’s increasing presence on the global film market.
France and China this year celebrate their 50th Anniversary of diplomatic relations. France is already a favourite destination for Chinese tourists, and with over a million Chinese visitors now visiting the country annually.
