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Cannes Prepares for a Quieter Festival

Economic woes put the breaks on Croisette craziness

By Jason Farago,  Newser Staff

Posted May 12, 2009 10:00 AM CDT

(Newser) – The Cannes Film Festival opens tomorrow with a screening of the new Pixar film Up, but this year the glitzy two-week movie fest on the French Riviera may be a low-key affair, writes the Hollywood Reporter. Yachts have gone unrented, Vanity Fair has canceled its annual party, and movie execs are anxious about the dealmaking that takes place around the festival.

While the most attention is focused on the films in competition—which this year include works by Quentin Tarantino, Pedro Almodóvar, and Ang Lee, Reuters notes—hundreds more movies that have yet to find distributors are screened away from the hubbub. Bidding for films is likely to be restrained, and new platforms, such as online video, may supersede theatrical releases for many pictures.

Spanish director Pedro Almodovar gestures to photographers as he arrives for the film No Country For Old Men, at the 60th International film festival in Cannes, May 19, 2007.
Spanish director Pedro Almodovar gestures to photographers as he arrives for the film "No Country For Old Men," at the 60th International film festival in Cannes, May 19, 2007.   (AP Photo)
A worker sets up a giant canvas of the 62st Cannes Film Festival's official poster on the Cannes Festival Palace yesterday.
A worker sets up a giant canvas of the 62st Cannes Film Festival's official poster on the Cannes Festival Palace yesterday.   (AP Photo)
French actress Isabelle Huppert will head the jury of the 62nd edition of this year's Cannes Film Festival.
French actress Isabelle Huppert will head the jury of the 62nd edition of this year's Cannes Film Festival.   (AP Photo)
Photographers work on the red carpet as guests arrive for the premiere of Synecdoche, New York during last year's Cannes film festival.
Photographers work on the red carpet as guests arrive for the premiere of "Synecdoche, New York" during last year's Cannes film festival.   (AP Photo)
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COMMENTS
Showing 1 of 1 comment
kokuaguy
May 12, 2009 4:07 AM CDT
Is there a sensation like "An Inconvenient Truth" or "Fahrenheit 9/11" out there to generate controversy?

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