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.

Let’s get one thing out of the way: what you don’t get at the Colette are the palm trees and shimmering sea views you associate with Cannes. This is a hotel rooted in one of the busiest areas of town. On the other hand, you are still only  a five minute walk from the Croisette, beach and Palais (if you are attending Midem, MIPIM or the Cannes Film festival). There are also many places to eat and drink, with  a busy open air market just around the corner.

Tips for staying in downtown Cannes

Although Hotel Colette boasts about its soundproofed windows, if you are a light sleeper I would still advise you to do the same as in any downtown hotel in any city: bring a set of earplugs. They really are better than spending a night complaining about scooters or car horns. If you don’t need them, they don’t take up much space in your luggage.

The Hotel Colette has 47 rooms, including two suites. Business travelers will appreciate the free wi-fi in rooms and public spaces. There is a business centre and cosy reading space. The hotel also offers assistance with printing and the use of computers as well as laundry and shoeshine services. Electric bikes are available for guests, which is very handy for visiting the town or getting around when the roads are blocked off for the festival.

All in all, the Colette has been developed for business travellers that enjoy somewhere friendly to stay. Another advantage is that the train can drop you within 10 minutes of the airport for just over €5.

Check for availability at the Colette right now

In the run-up to the Cannes Film festival, I’ll be detailing all the competitions I can find that offer free trips as a prize. Remember that many of these will be for specific countries and with set deadlines. So read the fine print before entering.

• If you’re French, between the age of 18 and 25 and can face watching over 20 films in 10 days, why not try and become part of the Youth Jury? Deadline: March 1. Get the details at Prix de le jeunesse.

This list will grow over the coming few weeks. So check back frequently or follow the Cannes or Bust twitter account for instant updates. Out of interest, you could check last year’s competition.

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.


Public funding has been an important resource for producers for some time. Public bodies in Europe have paid particular attention to the sector since it came into existence. Public intervention was made necessary by the domination of the international film market by the Hollywood giants since the end of the First World War, as well as by the economic weakness of national film industries and the political and cultural issues associated with the production and distribution of images.

Reaching European financing

Currently, Europe has a vast range of sources, from direct cash injections to tax credits & shelters, favourable loans and guarantees as well as support in promotion. Given the complexity of film finances, producers need to be aware of all the various support mechanisms that are available.

This year’s review covers key issues and questions:

• Exhaustive coverage: from influential national film agencies to small-scale local initiatives
• Direct public funding in 37 European countries
• Unique overview of the geographical spread, scale and scope of direct public funding
• With authoritative answers to the key questions:
  • How many funds?
  • How are they financed?
  • What is the total volume of funding?
  • Which activities are supported?
  • National versus regional funding – how do they differ?

The report also provides brief insights into a selection of special topics, including funding for the transition to digital cinema, tax incentives, public financial institutions active in the sector and a review of the public policy context at European level.

It’s worth remembering that students also get absolute rock-bottom entrance fees to Midem. Get the full details about student rates on the Midem student page.

Each year, Midem showcases the best new upcoming music apps and services under the Midemlab sidebar. This year’s finalists -  chosen by UK digital consulting company Music Ally and French specialist open innovation consultancy bluenove – will pitch their projects to a jury of leading international digital experts including potential business partners and leading investment firms. The sessions have proven very popular with the Midem audience, who are given sneak peaks into new ways of combining music with business.

Previous editions have provided a launch pad for some of today’s major technological innovations, such as SoundCloud, The Echo Nest, Songkick and Root Music.

Music Discovery, Recommendation & Creation

ChartsNow.mobi (UK) – mass market mobile music service

MPme by Apsmart (UK) – curated internet radio

musicplayr (Germany) – music discovery & blogging

Navegas (Germany) – connecting the world of music tool

Rexly (USA) – social discovery & recommendation

Songs2See by Fraunhofer (Germany) – music game development

SoshiGames (UK) – game-based social music discovery

Twusic by LemonLab (Belgium) – Twitter music application

Watzatsong (France) – crowdsourced music search engine

WhoSampled (UK) – music discovery

Marketing & Social engagement

BandApp (UK) – free instant artist app creation

Beloola by V-Cult (France) – social music service

CrowdSurfing by LiveOne Group (USA) – live content social viewing app

Flowd (Finland) – music marketing and social music service

iPluggers (Netherlands) – worldwide digital radio promotion

Oocto by GeniusMonk (France) – crowdfunding & crowdsourcing music platform

Pipe (Germany) – file transfer for social networks

RockStar Motel (USA) – fan-centric music social network

Tastebuds.fm (UK) – social events discovery

Webdoc (Switzerland) – fan engagement

Direct to consumer sales and Content Monetisation

Getonic (Israel) – direct to consumer social ecommerce

Menyou (Sweden) – online sales and distribution tool

Musicsoft Arts (USA) – interactive music discovery, playback and sales

My Bee (France) – access control and dematerialized payment

Ondango (Germany) – Facebook commerce solution

SonicAngel (Belgium) – next generation crowdfunding label

TuneRights (Sweden) – stock market for music

Tunipop (USA) – connecting merchandise with digital music

Weezevent (France) – cloud ticketing service

WildChords by Ovelin (Finland) – guitar learning game

Not all these companies are start-ups. Germany’s Fraunhofer was involved in developing the MP3 format and the Potato system for encouraging the re-sale of music by fans. TuneRights has been working on its musical stock market – an idea that is ripe – for several years. So the combination of young talent and experienced developers should make for some exciting ideas.

It would also be interesting to see how these apps could be used in other “content” industries such as movies or TV.

The destinations are Tel Aviv, Barcelona, Athens, Naples, Istanbul and Venice, all of which enter into service from April 2012 – just in time for the Cannes Film Festival 2012.

So if you are intending to attend the Film Festival, double check all these possibilities to get the best combination of convenience and price.

Resources:

Air France

Nice airport

This provides everyone with massive opportunities and challenges. Needless to say, an event like Midem in January 2012 is anxious to point out the opportunities.

Visionary Monday at MIDEM

This year, Midem is inaugurating a Visionary Monday, giving keynote speakers to chance to address the worldwide music community. The shift from push to pull marketing had led to new ways to build lasting, profitable and loyal relationships with audiences. At Visionary Monday, artists, industry leaders, marketing and technology experts share their insights and discoveries on new innovative ways to reach, engage with and monetize audiences, on related key issues:

• What are the new rules of audience engagement and monetisation?
• How to build an artist career as a brand? What are the most sustainable models to achieve it?
• What are the content strategies and tools to engage with your consumers and raise brand loyalty?
• Is the technology the future for music or is music becoming the future of technology?

Speakers this year include Wendy Clark, SVP Integrated Marketing with Coca-Cola, Mark Ronson, Grammy-winning, artist, producer and DJ, mikael Hed, CEO of Rovio, Dan Rose, VP of Partnerships and Platforms with Facebook and Kevin Roberts, CEO Worldwide of ad agency Saatchi & Saatchi.

It would be interesting to see how these principles would apply (or are already being applied) in other industries such as television and cinema. The presence of Coca-Cola and Facebook is interesting as they are both outside the music business, but both use music to support their business.

Are there any special engagement issues you would like to see covered? What significant changes have affected your business over the past few years?

Other resources:

• More about Midem 2012.
• Getting the most from Midem via Cannes-or-Bust.
• Studio rental