Cannes Short Film Corner - SHOULD I GO - anyone who went???

C

colanderton

Member
Hi all

I just applied one of our short films to the Cannes Short Film Corner and we got in.

My question is for all those who have BEEN to cannes and are planning to go. Is going there Worth it?

What I was thinking of is that since cannes short film corner already have all my contact information - any buyer or agent who wants to buy my film would contact me via email or phone call me.

I can save myself the ticket and hotel stay which is very expensive.

Bottom line. is going to the cannes short film corner to attempt to promote and sell your short film there WORTH IT??

Also is hiring a PR company promoting your short film there worth it as well??

Please offer your own experience please.
 
It's good for networking and just experiencing the festival in general, but at short film corner there's a ton of films there and most of them are not very good, if your's is really good and it gets bought I'd say with the money you get from the sale you might break even and if your lucky have some money left over.
Unfortunately short films don't make that much money if any at all so if you plan on going just go into with the networking and experience mind set and you'll have a good time, and most events have free booze so that helps :)
 
I see. that sounds like fun. unfortunately for my situation right now I can't really take a vacation at this point. would LOVE to go to france cannes and the festival!

When you say shorts don't make a lot of money. do you mean by $1000 Or $10000? I'm just curious because I do not know how much shorts usually make in europe or around the world!

I suppose getting your film budget back is good enough!?
 
I don't mean to burst your bubble, but about less than .1% of short films get sold (not counting ones that have been comissioned) and I don't think many of those even make back their budget. Short films are pretty much only used to show people that you have some talent and that investing in a project of yours just might be a good idea.
 
I would just go to be there. I've sent one film and heard of a lot to the short film corner, nothing really to expect, but a good time nevertheless. I mean, you'll be in cannes.
 
I've been to the Cannes Film Festival twice, in 2000 and 2001. It is a sight to behold. You will literally walk away breathless. There are so many good films showing there and quite a few bad ones as well, but the atmosphere, the food, the drinks, the parties, the filmmakers, the views, the coast, it's INSANE! Now, about short films. Short films DON'T MAKE MONEY! Period. Their only functionality is to show off your talent and to build interest and a reel for yourself. I worked on a short film that was made here in the southeast back in 2002 that went on to be nominated for an Oscar for Best Short Film in 2003, and trust me when I tell you that this film made no money. It cost a fortune to make (close to $90K) and basically pushed the director's name out there to show that she had the ability to tell a good story. It's one of those harsh realities. You should definitely go to Cannes, it's a good place to network. If there's anyplace you should be showing off your talent, it's there. Take advantage of your pass and go meet people, go to the film market in the Lumiere, talk to people; ultimately, you'll find that that is how your film will pay you back the best.
 
Joe Walker said:
I've been to the Cannes Film Festival twice, in 2000 and 2001. It is a sight to behold. You will literally walk away breathless. There are so many good films showing there and quite a few bad ones as well, but the atmosphere, the food, the drinks, the parties, the filmmakers, the views, the coast, it's INSANE! Now, about short films. Short films DON'T MAKE MONEY! Period. Their only functionality is to show off your talent and to build interest and a reel for yourself. I worked on a short film that was made here in the southeast back in 2002 that went on to be nominated for an Oscar for Best Short Film in 2003, and trust me when I tell you that this film made no money. It cost a fortune to make (close to $90K) and basically pushed the director's name out there to show that she had the ability to tell a good story. It's one of those harsh realities. You should definitely go to Cannes, it's a good place to network. If there's anyplace you should be showing off your talent, it's there. Take advantage of your pass and go meet people, go to the film market in the Lumiere, talk to people; ultimately, you'll find that that is how your film will pay you back the best.
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+10
 
I second all that. I had a film that showed there a couple years ago and I didn't make it out cause I couldn't justify the trip financially. I regret it. It's not about the finances. It's the ^%$#ing Cannes festival! I wish I had made it a priority and gone; who knows if I'll ever get in again? And how much cooler is it to go as a featured filmmaker?!
 
Joe Walker.

Thank you for your insights. I never thought it would be like that. but very interesting and nice perspective.

I have a question about that short you helped out on in 2003?? What was that short called? More importantly my question is who is that director and how is she doing these days after all the years after the Oscar nominations? I would assume after the nomination she would have all the hook ups in the industry?? Is she a "stable professional" director now making features?

thank you
 
The short was called "Johnny Flynton", the director's name is Lexi Alexander, she went on to make "Hooligans" and "Punisher War Zone". In fact last year she shot a feature film here called "Lifted". I hear it got picked up for distribution. Oscar noms don't always get you everything though. Like everything else in this business, alot of what happens to you career-wise is what you make of yourself, how you use the contacts/knowledge/skills you have, and more importantly, how you do what you can with what you have at the time that you have it.

When I was at Cannes in 2001, I got to meet Maria De Madeiros and actually have a kick-ass one on one conversation with her. In 2000, I was eating at a restaurant and Ang Lee was sitting one table over. For the love of god man, go to Cannes. Go in debt to do it if you have to. You'll thank me when you get back.
 
Is getting accepted to the Short Film Corner (NOT the festival itself) prestigious??? Or do they seem to be just accepting anyone's short once they pay the fee
 
It's not AS prestigious but it's still better than having no film at all in the festival. There's two ways to go to a film festival; as a filmmaker or a film-watcher. As the first choice, your points go up. Or I'll put it this way, having a film in the Short Film Corner is like going into a Chevy dealership and buying a Camaro. Having a film in the other parts of the festival is like buying a Corvette. Sure owning a Corvette is awesome, but dude.....IT'S A FREAKING CAMARO!
 
Joe Walker said:
It's not AS prestigious but it's still better than having no film at all in the festival. There's two ways to go to a film festival; as a filmmaker or a film-watcher. As the first choice, your points go up. Or I'll put it this way, having a film in the Short Film Corner is like going into a Chevy dealership and buying a Camaro. Having a film in the other parts of the festival is like buying a Corvette. Sure owning a Corvette is awesome, but dude.....IT'S A FREAKING CAMARO!
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I prefer the Camaro!
 
colanderton said:
Hahahaha great point guys
btw Joe Walker. are you a director?
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Me? Oh no no no no no. I edit full time for Leo Ticheli who also posts on these boards. In my spare time I'm a director of photography for music videos and short films. I've shot one feature which screened at the Toronto film festival back in 2006. I'm also a confessed Panavision fanboy and am looking to join a local dodgeball team....but I'm not a director.
 
Does anyone know the quickest way to ship from the US (Chicago to be specific) to France? And approximately how long would it take?
 
I went to the Cannes festival last year. As others have mentioned, it's a great experience to really open your eyes to the business side of the film industry. You get a huge education in how films are bought and sold.

The Short Film Corner doesn't accept every film - I know this as I had friends who didn't manage to get in. Thankfully mine was accepted though and it's a great way to attend the festival on a budget. You get access to pretty much everything for your 90ish Euros - premieres, market screenings... the lot. Doesn't get you onto any of the boats though, unfortunately.

There are tons of films in the Short Film Corner - about 1000 or so. You have to promote like mad with posters and flyers, to try and persuade the buyers to watch your film (on the digital viewing booths). What's great is you get a list of everyone who's watched your film, and you can follow it up later with an email. I managed to get distribution on my short this way.

I wrote a little blog about my experience at the Cannes Short Film Corner last year.

Definitely worth going!
 
ric4star.

did you do well selling your shorts? did your shorts recouped your short film's budget?
I'm curious to ask because I assume you do not have a sale's agent? But you negotiated with the distributors themselves? Any tips on getting a nice big advance? I've been hearing that you should get an advance and not the back end sales because they will do some hollywood accounting!
 
Hi - It was my first experience taking a short there, and the distribution deal it received was done non-exclusive with no upfront fee. Just a slice of each web/theatrical/tv sale that comes in. I should hear every six months or so - first statement due in a few weeks so would be able to tell you then.

I'm not expecting to make huge money on it any time soon, but it was produced on a minimal budget, so fingers crossed I'll eventually be able to recoup that.

In future would definitely like to get an advance on sale of a film.

Next time around at Cannes I'll go all out with the promotion side. Some people were handing out DVDs, and plastering large posters everywhere. It's really hard to stand out and get people to actually watch your film. Really need to work on this next time.
 
I go to Cannes every year and drop by the short filmmaking corner for the daily Happy Hour (free drinks!)

I think it's worth going if you can afford it. The short film corner is under the festival Palais which is where the Film Market is. So you will get to see how the industry works first hand. Also with your SFC accreditation you will be able to go into the A Lister hotels, Majestic, Martinez, Grand, Carlton which also house the majors (in the penthouse suites) and access the pavilions along the croisette (apart from the American pavilion which costs some extra $$$'s and the Kodak pavilion which requires an extra pass which you can get by asking Kodak nicely).

One of our guys created a guide, it may be useful: http://www.pleasedsheep.com/content.php/100-A-Guide-to-the-Cannes-Film-Festivalhttp://www.pleasedsheep.com/a-beginners-guide-to-the-cannes-international-film-festival/
 
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