Strike Pictures was fortunate to spend time on the French Riviera with fellow film producers from P.E.I., Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland and Labrador. This was the first time that Arianna, Gordon, and Lance attended the Cannes Film Festival.

Producers from the four Atlantic Provinces were selected to further enhance the promotion of coproduction, joint-financing, distribution and development opportunities between screen industry producers in the Atlantic Provinces and those internationally. The mission is meant to enhance the group’s knowledge of working with producers on an international scale.

Established in 1959, the Cannes Marché du Film is the largest film market in the world and the commercial platform of the Cannes Film Festival. This year, Canada represented one of 140 countries participating; an unmissable event for 14,000 industry professionals from around the globe.

While in Cannes, Strike met with domestic and international distributors and sales agents. They also networked with many other producers and filmmakers from around the world. Relationship building with industry partners is a key component of building the film economy in New Brunswick.

“It was certainly a life-changing experience. Sometimes in New Brunswick we can feel so siloed from the rest of the country and the world. Being in a place like Cannes with so many other filmmakers was a great reminder that creativity and passion is why we do this - and that New Brunswick film deserves to be shown on an international scale, just as much as anyone else.” says Lance.

Gordon Mihan’s new stop motion film “Happy Campers” also screened as part of the 8th annual Animation Day in Cannes (ADIC). It was a unique opportunity to see a New Brunswick short film shown at such a prestigious film market.

Of course, a big perk of going to Cannes is the SCREENINGS! Over the week, Strike was able to see films such as Yorgos Lanthimos’ “Kinds of Kindness” and Coralie Fargeat’s “The Substance”.

Stay tuned for more news as a result of this trip!