The president of the Cannes Film Festival, Iris KnoBloch, urged the industry not to panic American threats to impose a 100% price on films made abroadBefore the opening of the 78th edition of the annual gala.
“At this point, it is still too early to assess any potential impact,” she said. “I hope, however, that the world cinema industry will not be paralyzed by prudence and uncertainty.”
The threat of prices – that leaders have warned could freeze production abroad – presents themselves on other external pressures on filmmakers, she told Financial Times.
“The industry remains fragile after the shocks of COVID-19, work strikes and recent Forest Fire of Los Angeles. However, the cinema sector has always shown remarkable resilience and adaptability in the face of changing circumstances.”
Hollywood returns in force after this disturbance, according to Knobloch, whose confidence in industry was stimulated by the studios that turn into the cinemas while the public returned after the pandemic.
“If you see what's going on at the box office now, Hollywood is back,” she said. “Hollywood has always reinvented itself. And I think we see it happening slowly.”
KnoBloch will open the film festival on May 13. He attracted successful launches such as Tom Cruise's last mission impossible, alongside a list of independent films that are ready for his prestigious prizes. Robert de Niro will receive the Honorary Palme d'Or for a life achievement during the opening ceremony.
Cannes is “the best in cinema,” KnoBloch told FT. “Each film deserves to be there.”
The festival received entries for a record of 2,909 feature films from 156 countries this year, with around a third made by women. For the main competition, 21 films were selected. In 2024, Cannes titles won 31 Oscar nominations.
The films selected this year include Rebecca Zlotowski Privacy With Jodie Foster, Tarik Saleh's Eagles of the RepublicWes Anderson The Phoenician program, Richard Linklater New wave and Thierry Klifa The richest woman in the world.
KnoBloch underlined a new commitment to show the films first in the cinema after a period when streaming was a higher priority. “What is reassuring is that there is a return to the theatrical belief,” she said.
This year's festival opens while the French film industry takes care of its own late attempts to fight against the type of #MeToo scandals that have already struck Hollywood.
A report by French politicians last month said that sexual violence and harassment were “endemic” in the country's entertainment industry. A Parisian court will return its verdict this month in the trial of the star of the French cinema and veteran of Cannes, Gérard Depardieu, who was accused of sexual assault. He denied the accusations.
KnoBloch, a former senior management of Warner who recently undergone his mandate at the festival, is his first wife president. She said that the festival had made recommendations from the politicians' report, but added that there was still a lot of work to do. ”
“This is really one of my priorities,” she said, “where I think I should and that I can promote female talents and visibility.”
Many films last year focused on “the state of women in society,” she said, pointing towards Aor,, Emilia Pérez And The substance. This year, there was fewer a clear thematic trend, she said, but the seven women’s leading women's directors equaled the Record number established last year.
“Personally, as the first woman president, I believe that it is an important problem, that the festival must take seriously and that the festival will continue to take seriously. In France, it happened later than in the United States, but you have to go through these moments to create this consciousness for the next generation. ”
She said that there was no sign of change in the way cinema was attacked by social and cultural themes, despite the great attacks by Donald Trump against diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives
Knobloch highlighted the power of films to say important messages, pointing to the success of The area of interestA film on the life of the Commander of Auschwitz, which was created in 2023 in Cannes.
KnoBloch's mother, Charlotte KnoBlochis a survivor of the holocaust and an eminent activist of the Jewish community in Germany.
“The films have always resisted any type of political or other pressures,” she said. “The films are extremely important to carry messages. The filmmakers will always say their own truth.”
During his stay in Warner, KnoBloch brought the Mute 2011 film awarded in 2011 ArtsT at the festival for its world premiere.
Some leaders have warned that Cannes has lost part of its prestige in recent years and may be undermined by rival events in Venice and Toronto.
KnoBloch, a former lawyer who worked in the entertainment sector, brought an expertise in the industry as well as a deep book of contacts, according to former colleagues.
She said that the strength of film festivals such as Cannes resided in the promotion of films that would otherwise remain niche, pointing to the worldwide success of Aor. “You should always worry about your relevance. How can we keep the next generation committed? You bring the next generation. ”
