Keep it simple

If this is your first time, it’s possible you won’t be given a choice. You go where your correspondent suggests. If you have a planning made out already, remember to try and keep any other appointments as closely grouped as possible. My personal preference is in and around the Palais, for no other reason than people are concentrated there. When the weather is nice and the rosé is calling, it’s always nice to take a beach location. But if you have to run 20 minutes to get there and 20 to your next meeting, I don’t think it’s worth the trouble.

Being Irish and working mostly in Belgium, I always drop by to see if I can use their pavilions if necessary (the Irish one is particularly well placed). The UK and American pavilions are also great locations. But the first is usually crowded and the second asks for a membership fee. Check if you can use your national or regional pavilion. It varies from country to country. Scriptwriters might also want to check the Maison des Scénaristes pavilion in the Pantiero area.

I’ve had many meetings in the hotels. But they are expensive and can refuse access to people without a market badge. If possible, I try and grab a seat on the lawn of the Grand (photo). Not cheap, but very pleasant. Other popular locations are the Caffè di Roma and Maison de Porto cafés opposite the Palais. The Roma terrace is great in the early morning, but gets very busy later.

So what about you? What do yo think are good locations for meetings? Drop a suggestion below.

Rare movies at Cannes

African cinema is rarely seen outside of Africa itself, with only a very few festivals worldwide devoting time to the new voices. The Pan-African Film Festival offers a unique opportunity to catch films from – this year – Morocco, Trinidad and Tobago,  Guadeloupe and elsewhere. In all, some 50 films will be shown this year.

International jury

This year’s honorary president is the Canadian actress and producer Tetchena BELLANGE. The jury will be headed by the Algerian director Mohammed Soudani. Concerts and gala dinners will be held at the Hotel Martinez and Hotel Miramar.

Trailer for “Le bonheur d’Elza”, showing at Cannes. For full details about the festival, visit Festival du film pan-Africain de Cannes.

Check for Cannes hotels during the festival

The MIPFormats Pitch competition is an international event for finding companies with innovative concepts for new, non-scripted entertainment formats. Warner Bros. International Television Production, the exclusive sponsor of the competition, oversaw the pre-selection and will spend up to euro 25,000 to develop the winning project of the MIPFormats Pitch.

Formats remain a very lucrative part of the business, even though it sometimes feels as though Endemol have a monopoly on the really successful ones.

Simon Staffans, Media City Finland

5 format finalists at MIPFormat Cannes

This year’s 5 finalists are:

ALL FOR ONE ONE FOR ALL Presented by Janane Mallat, CEO, IPROD, Lebanon

LOOKING FOR LOVE Presented by Stuart Coxe, Executive Producer, Antica Productions, Canada

MILLION DOLLAR MYSTERY Presented by Adam Markowitz, President, Markowitz Media, USA

PERSUASION Presented by Soreyrith Um, President, Summertime Entertainment, USA

WHICH ONE OUT Presented by Simon Staffans, Format Developer, MediaCity Finland, Finland

5 golden rules for pitching at Cannes

It’s interesting to see such a geographical spread of contestants, including at least one MIPTV  regular, Simon Staffans (photo). Ironically, he has written five golden tips for successfully pitching a project that you (and his competitors) can find here. as many people have to pitch at Cannes events it makes interesting reading.

Check now for hotel availability at MIPTV 2012

starting at €170.

The Cannes leg will focus on “Utilizing Global Financing, Risk Mitigation, and Distribution Strategies”. More precisely, it will assess the impact of the global economy on the industry, emerging trends in deal structuring, capital raising challenges and solutions, revenue generation through new distribution avenues, in addition to many other factors affecting film financing today.

The speakers include Randall Emmett of Emmett/Furla Films, Danny Glover and Joslyn Barnes, David Glosser of the Weinstein Company and Andrex Cripps of Imax.

For full details and registration, visit the Film Finance Forum.

12:00 – 12:30 pm
Registration and Networking @ the Hotel Majestic Barriere

12:30 – 12:40 pm
Opening Remarks: Introduction of the Program

12:40 – 1:45 pm
Global State of the Industry: How to Get Films Financed and Made Today
- What new structures are emerging to get deals done?
- What new capital is available in the current market?
- What type of content is receiving emphasis and funding in the studio and independent context?
- Approaches to raising finance from emerging markets

1:45 – 2:45 pm
Smart Money Strategies: Utilizing Risk Mitigation Across Borders
Reducing risk when structuring a deal is one of the key elements to a successful film investment. This group of experts will address the latest strategies on:
- How to protect the equity
- Profit participation as it relates to equity split
- Strategies for co-financing and joint ventures
- Identifying high-risk factors and potential problems
- New trends in film insurance and completion bonds
- Risk mitigating factors in deal-closing with talent
- International auditing issues and collection strategies
- Investment partnerships with brands

2:45 – 3:00 pm
The Impact of Piracy on Digital Distribution
A presentation by the Motion Picture Association

3:00 – 3:30 pm
Networking Break

3:30 – 4:30 pm
International Co-Production: Finding Access to Partners and Utilizing Incentives Abroad
Co-productions are playing a bigger role in the development of new projects around the world every day. During this panel discussion, this group of film commissioners, producers and film funds will address:
- How to get co-production deals done today
- Finding access to partners
- Utilizing incentives
- Legal matters
- Distribution rights
- Issues & solutions

4:30 – 5:30 pm
US and Worldwide Sales and Distribution Strategies
This panel of distribution specialists will discuss:
- Pre-sale strategies at various markets
- What it takes to get films distributed in the U.S. today
- What are distributors looking for and able to pay?
- Monetizing on digital delivery platforms
- Emerging marketing trends

5:30 – 7:30 pm
Networking Reception

This is one red-carpet event it would be advisable not to miss. The Titanic is “celebrating” its centenary this year, which will drive huge interest. In addition, the production and cast of this version promises good television viewing. Produced by Nigel Stafford-Clark (Bleak House, Warriors) and Chris Thompson (Love Actually, The No.1 Ladies Detective Agency), the series of four one-hour episodes is scheduled for broadcast in March/April 2012, to coincide with the anniversary.

“MIPTV and MIPCOM had been hugely important to the financing of Titanic,” syas Simon Vaughan, Managing Director, Lookout Point, and Titanic Executive Producer. “Julian and I were here with ITVS GE 18 months ago talking to potential partners and co-producers, so it feels most fitting to celebrate its launch with a gala screening here in Cannes. We are extremely proud to have the chance to screen it to our friends and colleagues in this way.”

For more details, visit MIPTV.

Check now for hotel availability at MIPTV 2012

starting at €170.

Global Buzz from MSN

MSN International is commissioning original content via the Content 360 digital content creation contest. The target audience is gender neutral, 20-45, with a skew towards InfoSeekers (those who keep their finger on the pulse of the internet and are always aware of the buzz of the moment) and Connected Socializers (those who keep in constant connection with their friends and personal networks). The best three entries will receive €5,000 to produce a pilot, with the best one getting the commission.

New Transmedia Concepts

Producers are invited to submit proposals for new transmedia concepts that mix video storytelling (FICTION) with gaming, live events, mobile applications, integrated marketing, dual screen content – or get any additional techniques for enriching the story/story world and the user experience. The projects will be judged on a presentation given by the producer. The presentation MUST be given in the form of a “Quick Fire Concepts” presentation where the producer shows 20 relevant images and talks about each of them for approximately 20 seconds (total 6.40) to explain the concept, target audience, story, characters, platforms and budget.

I like this way of presenting, as it mirrors the viewing habits of the intended audience.  If you can’t grab the attention of professionals in a format like this, what chance do you have with viewers?

Test lab for creative talent

Although traditional production houses seem reluctant to embrace these sorts of productions, there is a very good case to be made for them. Vast amounts of content consumed these days is in short formats, notably on the web and increasingly via mobile. It’s a field which is within easy reach as production costs can be contained, at least at the outset.So it’s possible to keep a horse in the race without mortgaging the house.

These formats can also serve as a good test lab for new directing and format talents, giving new directors a shot at producing short, sharp and focused material with eye-appeal.

The deadline is February 24, with presentations at MIPTV in Cannes and the finalists announced on April 1. To get the full details, visit MIPcube.

Check now for hotel availability at MIPTV 2012

starting at €170.

Airport and jet interiors business in Cannes

The trade-only environment offers more than 2,500 visitors the place to do business and learn about developments and players in the market, amongst almost 150 exhibitors. Delegates include executive jet, corporate fleet, private charter and private owners and operators’ chief pilots, operations directors, scheduling directors, CEOs and managing directors as well as brokers.
In 2012, for the first time, the event will be co-located with “Business Jet Interiors Expo”, broadening its appeal and scope and giving executive jet owners and operators an intimate global exhibition focused solely on their cabin requirements. The Expos feature a free-to-attend conference that allows delegates to understand and explore some of the key issues in the industry, with opinions and presentations from 28 leading industry figures.

For the complete programme, visit BAWE.

The sixth Cannes AirShow, to be held from June 7 to 9, 2012, will be the opportunity to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Cannes-Mandelieu International Airport. Several special activities are planned, including a photographic presentation tracing the history of aviation and air shows.

Aviation hero

The current airport was developed following a major air show which hosted 50,000 spectators and proved to be the launch pad for the development of the airport way back in June 1911. In 1930, Paul Tarascon, the French aviation hero, invested the equivalent of several million euros to build the first airport on the French Riviera.

Exhibitors at the centenary event will include manufacturers Cessna, Cirrus, Hawker Beechrcaft, Embraer, Pilatus, Mooney, Daher Socata, Tecnam, Bose and many others. “There is nearly a 15% increase in participation this year compared to the 2011 show. Despite the economic crisis, the Cannes AirShow remains a ‘can’t miss’ event for general aviation in Southern Europe,” said Didier MARY, Director of the event.

More than 10,000 pilots and 20,000 visitors are expected to attend the sixth show this year. For news about this and other Cannes events, follow Cannes or Bust.

For the 6th time, the Break the Floor festival will be held on January 13 and 14, 2012. The first night will be dedicated to 8 duos in the Newstyle and Powermove styles. On Saturday 14, the 5 best worldwide breakdance troupes will face off with the 3 best French teams.

Get the details on their Facebook page

It must be said: Italy has a remarkable palette of companies to boast of. It intends to position itself to reap the benefits of opportunities in the east. One of the opening events will see Mario Molete Moregato, founder of Geox, receive the Personality of the Year award and talk about innovative entrepreneurship. Athmosfera, Conad Adriatico and Game 7 Sports are among the new Italian companies attending Mapic this year.

There will also be talk of expansion in southern Italy and the role of Chinese visitors.

But to make it personal, what brands spring to mind when you think of Italy? I have my selection, but I’d be interested to see which ones readers have.

Don’t miss the last hotels for Mapic 2012