The Cannes Film Festival said in-person attendance at the 2022 festival would be “compared to the past”, with the vast majority of delegates planning to travel.
Last year, the French festival announced a total of 10,000 registrations for its market, roughly evenly split between in-person and online participation. This amount corresponded to the year 2020, when the event was completely digital due to the lockout and 10,000 professionals were registered in the virtual market.
Before Covid in 2019, Cannes saw more than 12,500 industry delegates on the Riviera. Registration numbers are currently lower than in 2019, but the festival expects many to make last-minute decisions amid the current uncertainty.
Jerome Payard, who will oversee his final film, Marche du Film, before handing over the keys to Guillaume Esmiol, told Deadline that only 10% of delegates this year predict he will be a virtual assistant and the rest will go to France.
Shares added that the United States, United Kingdom and Germany would normally lead an international presence at the festival. Another region expected to grow significantly on the Riviera this year is Asia, although major Asian countries still have significant travel restrictions.
In response to companies Deadline has contacted about whether they intend to join this year, the Marche boss noted that rules have recently become less stringent in some Asian countries.
Hong Kong International Film Festival director Albert Lim told Deadline that the appetite for the Asian market to stay in Cannes is “positive”.
Hong Kong follows a “zero-zero” policy, but restrictions are gradually being eased and new rules make it technically possible to travel to Cannes from 1 April. But this will not be easy, a seven-day hotel quarantine will be required on the return to the city.
Despite this hurdle, Lee said his team plans to be physically present in Cannes and that “everyone wants to go” despite being “flexible and logistically challenging”.
Raymond Fatanavirangun, an employee of SEAFIC, a Southeast Asian feature film lab based in Bangkok, said he plans to travel to London and then to France in late April. In addition, a delegation from the Busan International Film Festival will be in Cannes.
As for China, which has maintained the harshest restrictions, Kahn predicts a “significant reduction” in pre-pandemic attendee numbers, but the country will continue to be represented by a pavilion in an international village where around 12 Chinese companies are expected. availability.
Another Asian country that plans to send an official delegation to Cannes for the first time is Mongolia. A new film commission is being formed in the country to send representatives to France for the festival.
Cannes-based MIPTV has experienced a travel delay this week as airlines, including EasyJet, canceled hundreds of flights at the last minute, resulting in a Covid-related staff shortage. The Cannes Film Festival may be more than a month away, but the unpredictable nature of the virus continues to add an extra layer of uncertainty to travel planning.
The 2022 edition of the Cannes Film Festival will run from May 17-28.
Source: Deadline
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