Time moves on: TikTok in Cannes

Cannes – You no longer need millions of dollars and a distribution deal to win prizes at the Cannes Film Festival – just a mobile phone and a bit of ingenuity will do.

The festival knew it needed a shot of youth and made TikTok an official sponsor.

That has brought some of the video platform’s biggest stars to the French Riviera – including Italian-Senegalese sensation Khaby Lame and his 139 million followers – inevitably breaking the festival’s usual taboo against selfies on the red carpet.

TikTok also sponsored a short film competition, with prizes awarded by film professionals, as well as Lame.

“You might think that three minutes is short, but we really tried to judge them just as we would a film of 120 minutes,” jury member and French director Camille Ducellier said.

Top prize was shared by Japan’s Mabuta Motoki, with a simple but touching short about traditional wood carving, and Slovenian Matej Rimanic with a mini ode to black-and-white silent comedies. –