Netflix pulls out of Cannes festival

Tempo Online
1 Min Read
(FILES) In this file photo taken on September 15, 2014 The Netflix logo is pictured in Paris. Netflix boss Ted Sarandos said on April 11, 2018 in an interview with Variety that the streaming giant would not be present this year at the Cannes Film Festival, whose selection will be known Thursday, because of the French regulations. / AFP PHOTO / STEPHANE DE SAKUTIN

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)

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