Following the recent press conference unveiling the Cannes lineup, festival director Thierry Fremaux addressed various key topics, including the highly anticipated film 'Megalopolis' by Francis Ford Coppola. The 135-minute epic, with a budget of $120 million and starring Adam Driver, has been selected to compete at the Cannes Film Festival but currently lacks a distribution deal in France.
Fremaux noted that while it's not uncommon for films in the official section to lack distribution, the situation with 'Megalopolis' could potentially become problematic. The absence of a French theatrical distribution deal may clash with Cannes' rule requiring all competition films to have such an arrangement.
This rule was established following a controversy in 2017 involving the programming of Netflix films, leading to the streaming service's absence from Cannes since then. Despite this, Coppola's lawyer has been actively seeking a deal for 'Megalopolis,' potentially with a studio or streamer like Apple or Amazon, which could still facilitate a theatrical release in France.
Fremaux also addressed the issue of gender representation at the festival, noting a slight decrease in the number of female directors in competition this year. However, he emphasized that Cannes reflects global cinema trends and highlighted efforts to consider gender throughout the selection process. A forthcoming study on female directors' representation at the festival will be published soon.
Furthermore, Fremaux highlighted the inclusion of genre films in competition, such as Coralie Fargeat's 'The Substance,' signaling a shift towards embracing diverse genres. French filmmakers like Fargeat and Gilles Lellouche are making their competition debuts, showcasing a variety of works including music-filled romances and Spanish-language musical films.
