Cannes jury split over Netflix films
A divide opened in the Cannes jury within minutes of the film festival opening, as Pedro Almodóvar, the director and jury president, was caught in a spat with Will Smith, the actor, over whether Netflix films should be in contention for the Palme d’or. Almodóvar said he could not conceive awarding the prize to a film that was not in cinemas, but Smith retorted that the online streaming service had “no effect” on audiences.
AS THE town fills with artistic types, complete with artistic temperaments, no Cannes Film Festival would be complete without a good showbiz spat, but this year’s has kicked-off early.
Within minutes of the 70th annual festival opening yesterday, the competition jury went to war with itself over no less a cause than the future of cinema, as its president, Pedro Almodóvar, seemed to rule out two Netflix films before anyone has even seen them.
Almodóvar launched his own campaign to save cinema for a new generation by arguing that the inclusion of two Netflix-funded movies must not be allowed to threaten traditional cinema. However, the actor Will Smith, also a jury member, flatly contradicted him by insisting that the digital streaming service had “absolutely no effect” on cinemagoers and was not a threat.
The debate dominated the lead-up to the festival after it was announced that Okja, directed by Bong Joon-ho, and The Meyerowitz Stories, from director Noah Baumbach, will premiere at Cannes before a non-cinema release on Netflix.
The policy has so infuriated purists that the festival last week changed its rules to state that, as of next year, films in competition will have to commit to distribution in French movie theatres.
Netflix allows subscribers to see films immediately upon release, and at home, rather than the traditional cinema release followed by a DVD.
The winner of the coveted Palme d’or prize will be chosen by nine jurors from 19 “in competition” films, including the two Netflix offerings. But Almodóvar told the festival’s opening news conference: “I personally do not conceive, not only the Palme d’or but any other prize, being given to a film and then not being able to see this film on a large screen.”
The award-winning Spanish director said he deplored the modern habit of watching films on tablets, televisions and laptops which, he claimed, ignores “the capacity of hypnosis of [the] large screen for the viewer”.
He said: “You must feel small and humble in front of the image that is here to capture you … digital platforms are a new way of offering images, which in itself is enriching … but these platforms, these new forms, should not take the place of existing forms like the movie theatre.”
Smith, speaking of his children’s viewing habits, said: “Netflix has had absolutely no effect on what they go to the movie theatre to watch … there’s really little or no cross-over. It’s not as if they would have gone to the cinema if it wasn’t on Netflix: it’s two completely different forms.”
Reed Hastings, the head of Netflix, has accused the film-making establishment of “closing ranks” and the debate will rumble on through the festival, which runs until May 28. This year’s jury also includes the actress Jessica Chastain.