Cannes International Film Week is a revolutionary digital streaming film festival, operating independently yet concurrently with the renowned Cannes Film Festival. Held during the pinnacle week of the film industry, Cannes International Film Week offers filmmakers an unparalleled opportunity to showcase their creations to the Cannes audience.
What sets Cannes International Film Week apart is its digital platform hosted on the Whush streaming service, providing accessibility to buyers, curators, and film professionals alike, regardless of their physical presence at Cannes. This groundbreaking approach effectively dismantles the traditional barriers of exclusivity associated with Cannes, democratizing access to cutting-edge cinema.
Unlike the industry-driven selections prevalent in Cannes, Cannes International Film Week takes a distinctively curated approach. Every film featured undergoes a rigorous selection process, ensuring a diverse and high-quality lineup that captivates audiences and industry insiders alike. This curated program encompasses a wide range of independent films, offering a dynamic showcase of creativity in various forms.
In contrast to the pay-to-play model of Cannes, where screenings and streaming slots are secured through financial transactions, Cannes International Film Week remains steadfastly curated, fostering an environment where artistic merit takes precedence over financial resources. This ethos creates a win-win scenario: Filmmakers gain invaluable exposure to the discerning Cannes audience, while industry professionals gain access to a meticulously curated selection of new cinematic works ripe for distribution.
Cannes International Film Week stands at the forefront of innovation, bridging the gap between filmmakers and industry professionals, while simultaneously revolutionizing the landscape of film festivals. With its commitment to quality and inclusivity, Cannes International Film Week represents a beacon of opportunity for emerging talents and established filmmakers alike, redefining the narrative of accessibility in the world of cinema.
CALL FOR ENTRIES
Do you have a film that’s suitable for the biggest screen of them all, the internet? Only submit your film if you’re comfortable with having your film being streamed online. The selection will go online during a period of 3 weeks. Viewers will be able to watch, but not download your film. If needed we can geo-block your film to our region (France). We’re open to any genre (narrative, web series, made for tv, documentary, experimental…) and especially any duration (which is always an issue for physical festivals). Selected filmmakers will receive all official selection perks (The Tarkovski Grant, The Producer’s Night nomination…) and are in the running for any of the award titles.
HISTORY
Founded as a quarterly online 'Martinique International Film Festival' in 2015, the festival ran for 8 editions before taking a break in 2018. In 2022 the festival was acquired by Tarkovski Ltd, a global player in the film festival world. New aims were set and a new approach was developed, transforming the Martinique International Film Festival into an online streaming platform, up to speed with present viewing behaviour in an increasingly digital world. In 2024 the festival merged with the Cannes International Film Week to become one of the most innovating digital film festivals out there.
NOTICE: Cannes International Film Week and Festival de Cannes
This serves as an official notification that Cannes International Film Week operates entirely independently and is not affiliated, associated, or endorsed in any manner with the Festival de Cannes. While both events occur concurrently, Cannes International Film Week functions as a separate entity, distinct in its organizational structure, programming, and objectives. As such, any representation or suggestion of a connection between Cannes International Film Week and the Festival de Cannes is inaccurate and misleading. Cannes International Film Week maintains its autonomy and operates under its own auspices, committed to providing a platform for filmmakers and fostering artistic expression without reliance on or endorsement from the Festival de Cannes.
AWARDS
Best Film Audience Award: 500 USD cash award
Best Narrative Feature Film
Best Documentary Feature Film
Best Narrative Short Film
Best Documentary Short Film
Best Animated Film
Best Experimental Film
Meilleur Film Francophone
Best of the Web
Best Music Video
THE TARKOVSKI GRANT
All selected filmmakers will receive The Tarkovski Grant, a film festival submission fee waiver package with an average value of about $500. This not only saves you a lot of money, but it also recognizes your work as something to watch for during the selection procedure, making a selection with another partner film festival more likely - but of course, never guaranteed. The Tarkovski Grant supports hundreds of filmmakers each year in their challenging journeys as independent filmmakers, by promoting existing films, no matter the genre, style or length. The Tarkovski Grant is supported by film festivals from all over the world. Find out more here: www.thetarkovskigrant.org
THE PRODUCER'S NIGHT NOMINATION
All selected films are also automatically in the running for The Producer's Night. Producer's Night is an opportunity for independent filmmakers to have their work screened to a private group of elite Hollywood producers. For many directors, it could mean their ticket to the mainstream. The exclusive screening will show the best of independent cinema from the past year's film festivals at the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute in West Hollywood. More information: www.producersnight.com
FREE SUBSCRIPTION TO VIDEOMAKER
In an added effort to support new and emerging filmmakers, our festival will offer a free year of access to Videomaker's digital magazine to all filmmakers submitting their work. More information: www.videomaker.com
FREE SUBSCRIPTION TO WHUSH.COM
All selected filmmakers will receive a free subscription to Whush.com for 3 months. Whush.com is a streaming service that has teamed up with over 20 film festivals worldwide, exclusively streaming official selections during the festival period. More information: https://www.whush.com
EXPOSURE
All selected filmmaker will be invited for an exclusive one-on-one interview on www.iFilmFestival.com. The interview will appear on www.iFilmFestival.com, and will be shared on the festival's Facebook page.