NETFLIX’S chief content officer said in an interview published Wednesday the streaming giant would not attend this year’s Cannes Film Festival because of a change in French regulations.
Speaking to the industry magazine Variety, Ted Sarandos said the festival – whose selection will be made public Thursday – had instituted a new rule prohibiting any film without a theatrical distribution in France from competing for main prizes.
“We want our films to be on fair ground with every other filmmaker,” Sarandos said. “There’s a risk in us going in this way and having our films and filmmakers treated disrespectfully at the festival.”
“They’ve set the tone. I don’t think it would be good for us to be there.”
Netflix showed two films at the prestigious film festival last year – but triggered scandal over its refusal to show “Okja” in French cinemas before distributing it for streaming to its subscribers. (AFP)
