The booths are starting to be dismantled and the market is slowly becoming a ghost town. As fast as it went up, it will come down. The film festval does not technical end until Sunday, but already deals have been made and people have had their flights out. The larger screenings have already been premiered and most of the stars have went their merry which way. The vibrant marketplace is no more but in its short existence, the bustling environment was something very special. When inside, you can feel the connections being created as this is perhaps the biggest thing in not only the entertainment industry but across the board as well.
For the common folk, the festival is all about the red carpet - the stars on it and the few well known films that they lead to. A lot of the tripled population in Cannes during the festival, however, focuses on the market and the job there. It is as if it is an enormous confusing convention where hosts try to be the best sales people they can be while trying to avoid the ubiquitous security. It is surprising how many poorly designed posters, awkward slogans, and horrific titles of films are present within the Palais, most of them most likely being worthless. They may be in the city for cinema, but perhaps it is not for them. You learn a lot when you gain access to the inside, but perhaps more than you want to know. It is not glamorous nor very promising but it is intriguing. It is where films, companies, and people get the tires going but it is up to each other within the industry to see really how far they go. For most, they may skid for while or get a flat but the few diamonds in the rough are there it is just a matter of who finds it and when.
By: James Cullen