Since the TV industry attended the last ‘normal’ MIPCOM in 2019, the U.S. has a new president, the U.K. has a new monarch, Italy has a new ‘temporary’ government, the Russians are being banned in many parts of the world for their invasion of Ukraine, the Philippines went back to the future with another Marcos as president, Netflix is no longer the only streaming game in town, and exhibitors at MIPCOM CANNES are playing musical chairs with their stands, while the “bunker” (basement floor of the Palais) has been reopened.
Several Cannes hotels are closed for renovation, most notably the Carlton, but also the Grand Hotel and the Radisson Blue. And the famous Cannes carousel located in the gardens just outside the Palais has been dismantled.
Other than that, everything else is staying pretty much the same, or at least so it seemed today, on MIPCOM’s first day. All exhibiting sections of the Palais were busy, there was a long line at the registration office, and everyone seemed glad to be back at the first regular-size Cannes market since the pandemic.
A full house was registered today also at the newly-designed Seaview Producers Hub, located on top of the Riviera section, where morning sessions were standing-room only. In particular the one on “The Changing Face of International Drama Co-productions” with Keshet’s Anke Stoll, ITV’s Lisa Perrin, FremantleMedia’s Christian Vesper and Upgrade Productions’ Matt Brodlie. If all speakers agreed on the struggle to find a specific business model that works for co-productions, especially due to tougher budgets and the necessity to protect the artists’ creative vision, all experts also agreed on an increased flexibility in terms of distribution rights. Because of budget squeezes and the availability of more complete data on consumption, streamers don’t need all rights any more, leaving more space for product to be placed into the distribution pipeline.
Turning to party activity at the market, after 34 months without sipping champagne in Cannes during MIPCOM, the corks are again popping, starting this past Saturday with the MIPJUNIOR opening party at the Majestic Hotel, sponsored by NBCUniversal. Then, yesterday, Boat Rocker rocked the Croisette with its drinks reception. Yesterday also saw a special red carpet screening of the western series The English, starring Emily Blunt. The 6:00pm screening — with cast in attendance — was open to the public and a long line of people lined up outside the Palais from 4:30pm.
Today’s leisure events include the MIPCOM opening party at the Majestic, plus, cocktail parties by Electric Entertainment and FOX Entertainment Global. Unifrance, ATV, Studio Hamburg, and Cineflix are among the companies organizing festivities tomorrow.
Leave A Comment