As the build-up to Cannes Film Festival continues, one controversy surrounding the event appears to have been dealt with - for now, at least.
A number of French cinema owners and exhibitors have complained about Cannes' acceptance of films from streaming services such as Amazon and Netflix, and argued that the films shouldn't be accepted into the festival as they're not released in French cinemas.
According to a report by Variety, the board of the Cannes Film Festival convened a meeting on Tuesday to discuss the matter and have now ruled on it. According to their decision, all future films now have to be screened in French cinemas before they can be considered for the festival.
This flies in the face of the French cinema owners' recommendation, which was to yank Netflix's slate of films from the festival entirely. In a statement, the festival explained that they are "aware of the anxiety aroused by the absence of the release in theaters of those films in France."
"The Festival de Cannes asked Netflix in vain to accept that these two films could reach the audience of French movie theaters and not only its subscribers. The festival regrets that no agreement has been reached." Netflix CEO Reed Hastings hit back with his own statement on Facebook yesterday, saying that the "establishment (is) closing ranks" against Netflix.
Hastings has made no secret of the fact that he's in open war with theatre chains both in the US and internationally, so it's quite likely that this isn't going to be the end of it with Netflix and the film industry establishment.
Via Variety
