Netflix pulls out of Cannes over prize ban

Netflix has pulled out of the Cannes film festival following a ‘disrespectful’ ban on its films being eligible for prizes.

the streaming site had been in a drawnout battle with the festival’s directors over its refusal to feature its films.

festival director thierry fremaux said Netflix’s films – some of which have won or been nominated for Oscars – would not be eligible because they are not shown in cinemas. instead, they could be shown ‘out of competition’.

But Netflix hit back just hours before the festival’s official selection was announced yesterday, declaring it had completely pulled out of the event.

the streaming service, which is worth £70 billion, said it was ‘pointless’ to show its films after the rule change.

Chief content officer ted Sarandos accused Cannes of singling out Netflix and treating filmmakers ‘disrespectfully’.

‘We want our films to be on fair ground with every other filmmaker,’ he said.

‘there’s a risk in us going in this way and having our films and filmmakers treated disrespectfully at the festival ... i don’t think it would be good for us to be there.’

One casualty is a film made by the late Citizen Kane director Orson Welles. the Other Side of the Wind, made in the 1970s, has finally been finished by Netflix and is due for release this year. Mr fremaux has defended the decision, saying Netflix had ‘refused’ to release films in cinemas, and there are fears the ‘history of film’ could suffer if fans only watch online.