Film students head to Cannes International Film Festival next week
Kim Chaudoin | 615.966.6494 |
Delegation of nine students to experience the ‘hub’ of film industry business dealings during May 13-24 film fest
Nine Lipscomb University students in its dual MBA and Master of Fine Arts program will leave May 11 to attend the Cannes Film Festival, in Cannes, France, to learn about the business of the film industry.
While in Cannes, students will spend time networking with professionals attending the festival and examining the ethics of the industry. The trip will focus on learning how the film market works, how deals are made, distribution, marketing and how to understand “what the industry is looking for” in terms of themes, quality and product, said Dave DeBorde, chair of Lipscomb’s Department of Cinematic Arts, who will accompany the delegation of students to Cannes.
The students will be blogging and shooting video blogs of their experiences each day of the festival in an effort to provide the film community at Lipscomb and in Nashville a glimpse of one of the key trading centers and hubs of the film industry.
Mike Fernandez, dean of Lipscomb’s College of Entertainment & the Arts, who will lead the trip, knows there is a need now more than ever to train up the next wave of film industry professionals who can help fill industry need in the community.
“More than 80 percent of the business deals that happen in this industry, happen at Cannes,” said Fernandez. “It is important for our students to understand the business end of the industry. That’s why it is so important for them to be exposed to this international experience. There aren’t many programs in this part of the country that incorporate the Cannes experience into their curriculum.
“Many independent filmmakers don’t understand the business end of things,” said Fernandez. “It’s critical. You may produce a great film, but if you don’t know how to get it distributed no one will see it. This is a key part of preparing the next generation of leaders in the field of cinematic arts.”
According to a recent Nashville Chamber of Commerce study, the music and entertainment industry provides a $10 billion impact on Nashville’s economy annually, creating and sustaining more than 56,000 jobs in the Nashville area and supporting more than $3.2 billion of labor income annually. Tennessee economic development officials estimate that film and television production are responsible for 11,770 direct jobs and $485.3 million in wages in Tennessee.
The Cannes festival, which takes place from May 13-24, is famous for previewing new films of all genres, including documentaries, from around the world. This invitation-only annual festival is one of the most prestigious and well-known film festivals in the world.
The Cannes Film Festival includes special screenings, competitions, master classes given by world-renowned filmmakers, tributes, awards and exhibitions among other activities.
“Producing a film takes a huge collaboration,” said DeBorde. “If you’ve ever watched the final credits to a movie, you get an idea of just how many people it takes to put together a film. And every aspect of that process and every person is so important. Our students have to have an understanding of and appreciation for how it all works. Cannes is an ideal place for students to experience all of that.”
DeBorde, who produced the recently released film “Old Fashioned,” is no stranger to Cannes. His work has been screened at the Cannes Film Festival and at over 100 film festivals worldwide garnering more than 60 awards.
More than 35,000 film professionals and over 4,000 international journalists are expected to attend this year’s event. This year’s competition jury includes Joel and Ethan Coen, directors, writers, producers; Rossy dePalma, actress; Sophie Marceau, actress, director; Sienna Miller, actress; Rokia Traoré, composer, singer-songwriter; Guillermo Del Toro, director, writer, producer; Xavier Dolan, director, writer, producer, actor; and Jake Gyllenhaal, actor. Some of the official selection films that are scheduled to be screened during the festival include Woody Allen’s “Irrational Man,” George Miller’s “Mad Max: Fury Road” and Natalie Portman’s “A Tale of Love and Darkness.”