Thierry Frémaux went further. “The Festival wanted to celebrate its 65th season with a European jury President,” explains the festival director . “High-spirited and marked by his modernity and intelligence, Nanni Moretti’s films are the incarnation of all the best in cinema over the past thirty years”.

That’s quite a claim. But it’s true that Moretti’s films have always provoked love-or-hate reactions. He applied a critical but sometimes amusing eye on Italian society through films such as the award winning “Sogni d’Oro” (Sweet Dreams) and “La Messa è finita” (The Mass is Ended). “La Stanza del figlio” (The Son’s Room) won the Palme d’Or in 2001 and was a box office hit. Moretti scored more points with the controversial “Il Caimano” (The Caiman) in 2006, a film clearly targeted at Italy’s obsession with politics as theatre, and a thinly-veiled criticism of Silvio Berlusconi.

Read more about the Cannes Film Festival.

For the second time, the TV start-up competition will see companies from around the world pitch innovative business plans and prototypes to a panel of television executives, entrepreneurs and venture capitalists in the hope of being named “2012 most promising disruptive TV start-up.” MIPCube Lab will take place during MIPCube in Cannes on Friday 30 March, just ahead of the 2012 edition of MIPTV (1-4 April).

Game-changing innovations at Cannes

“During MIPCube Lab, we are looking to unearth game-changing innovations that will significantly contribute to altering the face of TV in all its forms,” said Laurine Garaude, Director of Reed MIDEM’s Television Division. “MIPCube attendees will be immersed in a unique, limited-participant highly networked cutting edge environment, before joining the thousands of executives who attend the biggest professional market in the TV industry: MIPTV.”

The choice of Cindy Gallop as a speaker fits the bill. Since her trail-blazing advertising career, she has been advising start-ups across the world with a simple approach: “I like to blow shit up. I am the Michael Bay of business.” Gallop is also the author of the thought-provoking “Make Love Not Porn: Technology’s Hardcore Impact On Human Behaviour”.

MIPCube will also feature an intriguing “TV Hack Day”, where developers will spend the day trying to twist new sources of fun out of the TV format. This sort of event has been very successful at Midem, notably.Other speaks at MIPcube include Ogilvy&Mather, Vivendi and Contagious.

Applicants have until Monday 20 February to submit (free) applications for the competition. Finalists will be mentored by jury members at the show to review and rehearse their presentations.

For further info, visit MIPcube.

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

Kate Ancketill, CEO of trend tracker GDR Creative Intelligence (UK), will profile emerging concepts that will revolutionize retailing tomorrow. A consultant to major international companies such as Sony, Macys, LVMH, Nike and Land Securities, Kate Ancketill researches into and anticipates new consumer trends. Heard about “longevity stores” or “genetic testing spas” yet? Ancketill underlines the importance of creativity and the influence of new technology in shaping these new brands.

Terry Green, Non-Executive Director of Qmatic AB (Sweden), will highlight the key role of new technology in tomorrow’s shops. A specialist in queue management and consumer flows in retail outlets, Green helps brands reduce the waiting times in shops, enhance customer satisfaction by giving them a relaxed in-shop experience, and thereby boosts retailer performance. Sounds basic, but then the important things often are!

International brands in Asia and Europe
In addition to market positioning, the strategy of international expansion is key to remaining competitive in an industry of intense rivalry. For the first time, a simulcast MAPIC conference session will be organized with MIPIM Asia in Hong Kong to highlight the potential of the rapidly-evolving Asian market that is opening up significant opportunities for international brands.

At MAPIC, Carmine Rotondaro, Worldwide Real Estate Director PPR Group (France) and Jacques Ehrmann, Chief Real Estate and Development Officer of Casino Group (France), will share their experience in this market with two keynotes at MIPIM Asia: David Sancho, Vice President International Expansion for Mango (Spain) and Professor Armando Branchini, Executive Director of Fondazione Altagamma (Italy), a business forum for large Italian luxury groups.

So you’ll get two sets of retail learnings in one session. For details, check the MAPIC programme

Incidentally, Selbst is currently pursuing a Law Degree at Yale Law School in the civil rights field. For details, visit her website. Photo courtesy of Pokerstars.fr

Book your hotel for Partouche Poker in Cannes.

Good rooms from €500

“We are extremely pleased to honour Anne Sweeney as our MIPCOM 2011 Personality of the Year in recognition of her unparalleled contributions to the global entertainment industry,” said Paul Zilk, Chief Executive of Reed MIDEM. “Of special note is her contribution to the expansion of Disney’s portfolio of channels, brands and programming worldwide, as well as her visionary leadership in fostering content on emerging digital platforms.”

Sweeney will notably be giving a keynote address at MIPCOM, which will be held October 3-6, 2011 in Cannes. “The accomplishments which have led to this honor are not mine alone,” she says. “This event will allow me to acknowledge and celebrate everyone on the Disney/ABC Television Group and Disney Media Distribution teams, who not only create some of the most acclaimed and popular programming around the globe, but also continually develop new, innovative distribution methods that meet the ever-evolving needs of consumers.”

Inevitably, it is Sweeney’s role in driving Disney and ABC material onto new platforms that picks up particular attention at cross-media events such as MIPCOM. Her talk on Wednesday 5 comes under the MIPCOM Media Mastermind banner.

Get more MIPCOM news

Check for Cannes hotels during MIPCOM 2011

As the conference drew to a close, the director, who won the Palme d’Or with “Dancer in the Dark,” was asked about comments he made in a recent interview regarding his interest in the Nazi aesthetic.

“No, that was a joke”
“I thought I was a Jew for a long time and was very happy being a Jew,” he said (referring to the fact he discovered only late in life that he was German). “Then later on came (Jewish and Danish director) Susanne Bier and then suddenly I wasn’t so happy about being a Jew. No, that was a joke, sorry. But it turned out I was not a Jew – but even if I’d been a Jew I would be kind of a second rate Jew because there is kind of a hierarchy in the Jewish population. But anyway, I really wanted to be a Jew and then I found out I was really a Nazi, you know, because my family was German, Hartmann, which also gave me some pleasure.”

It looks very likely that Von Trier has a mouth that works on its own. But Dunst and the reporters were not sure how to take his comments.

…”not what you call a good guy…”
“What can I say? I understand Hitler. I think he did some wrong things, yes absolutely, but I can see him sitting in his bunker in the end. I think I understand the man. He’s not what you would call a good guy, but I understand much about him and I sympathize with him a little bit. But come on, I’m not for the Second World War, and I’m not against Jews. I am of course very much for Jews. No, not too much because Israel is a pain in the ass. But still, how can I get out of this sentence?”

The fuss will inevitably be misinterpreted, misquoted and used against the film. He looks as if this is supposed to be a joke, but you can judge for yourself by watching the full Von Trier press conference here.

It had to be one of the biggest crowds ever seen on the Croisette in a long time – and that’s saying something. Lady Gaga’s appearance on CANAL+’s Grand Journal was one of the early highpoints of the Cannes Film Festival. Despite rumours that she was going to play a concert, she only performed the single “Judas” against the stunning backdrop of night falling on the bay. Unlike many TV shows, Lady Gaga sang live over the music, which is not that easy when doing such an elaborate dance routine.

The interview that followed her appearance gave her the opportunity to talk about ambition, “I’m relentless”, adding “I wanted to be the most successful female artist of the digital age.” Asked if she was impressed that she was already bigger than Madonna at her age, she replied “I’ don’t believe that – give me more time.” Knowing that she loves Edith Piaf, the host played an extract of “Je ne regrette rien”. “If you think I am going head-to-head with Edith Piaf, you’re crazy,” she laughed.

Asked about the charges of blasphemy around the video, she joked that “the only thing blasphemous is that I’m wearing Christian Lacroix and Chanel at the same time”. Continuing the theme of religion, she commented “I have so much faith; ‘Judas’ is a metaphor for forgiveness.”

Le Grand Journal goes out every night during the Cannes festival. Interviewees include Robert De Niro and Charlotte Gainsbourg and can be found here.

This is certainly true. It might also be a strong message to the countries of North Africa for another reason. Egypt was once indeed a powerhouse of world cinema, but currently only produces some 20 films per year for a population of 73 million. This figure has dropped from 72 in 1995. By way of comparison, South Korea produces about 80 films for a population of 48 million and Iran produces about 83 films for a population of 67 million.

Egyptian cinema needs support. Like other countries such as Morocco, it also needs more resources to stamp out the chronic levels of piracy that have all but killed theatrical releases. Old-fashioned though it might sound, theatrical is still an important part of the financing and promotion of movies.

The tribute to Egypt will take place on May 18 and will include an homage to late Egyptian directing legend Yousseff Chahine, the director of “Al-Massir/Destiny” (photo) who died in 2008. Egyptian directors, actors, producers and technicians will attend the event that will also see the screening of “18 jours”, short films shot during Egypt’s January 25 revolution. The festival will also salute the Tunisian revolution by showing the Tunisian documentary film “No More Fear”.

The annual event at the Hotel Du Cap-Eden-Roc in Antibes, France, will include a formal dinner and a world-renowned live auction, all to benefit amfAR, The Foundation for AIDS Research. As in previous years, producer Harvey Weinstein will recruit talent from the room to help with the live auction.

For the first time this year, amfAR is partnering with L’Oréal Paris for the official After Party. Famed DJs Samantha Ronson, Sebastian Perrin, and special guests will provide the music at the Eden-Roc, overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. The L’Oréal amfAR After Party will be hosted by Gwen Stefani, Freida Pinto, Patrick Dempsey, Milla Jovovich, and Michelle Yeoh.

In past years, the Cinema Against AIDS auction has seen legendary impromptu performances by such artists as Sir Elton John, Kylie Minogue, Annie Lennox, Patti Smith, Robin Williams, Natalie Cole, Liza Minnelli, Sheryl Crow, Wyclef Jean, Ringo Starr, Macy Gray, and Lionel Ritchie.

For reservations and details, call 001 -(212) 219-0297 or visit amfAR.