Chapter 86: The Cannes Film Festival

New York Kennedy International Airport.

"Buy shares of Marvel from multiple companies. Negotiate Henry's role quickly. Those three main roles are our primary focus; the rest doesn't matter," Charles instructed Dona Williams before boarding.

Dona nodded. "I will. If there's anything I can't decide on, I'll call."

Charles nodded. "I should be back in the States by June!"

Afterward, Charles headed into the airport and boarded a flight from New York to Nice, France. Cannes is right next to Nice.

After a six or seven-hour flight to Nice, he drove straight to Cannes. As a city in southeastern France along the Mediterranean, Cannes was also a developed tourist city.

During the world-renowned Cannes International Film Festival, it drew tourists like moths to a flame, right next to the major southern port city of Nice.

After spending a night in Cannes, Charles met up with Philip and the others who had arrived earlier. The festival wasn't just about the awards; it was also a marketplace for film deals and a platform for movie promotions.

If Brokeback Mountain didn't have to attend the Venice Film Festival in September, it surely would have made an appearance at Cannes.

In a suite at the Hotel Ritz Carlton on the Cannes Promenade, Charles was holding a catalog of participating films, including the main competition, Directors' Fortnight, and Un Certain Regard sections, among others.

Even the non-competition films were listed because Carpe Films was there to buy movies, so they had to pay attention to all the films, whether they were in the competition or not.

"Fahrenheit 9/11 has been selected for the main competition and could win the Palme d'Or," Charles said, smiling at Philip, who sat across from him.

Philip grinned back. "And it has a pretty good shot too!"

Charles thought for a moment and nodded. "True, relations between France and the U.S. are a bit frosty lately. I bet the French government would love to see America humiliated."

Entertainment has always been just another tool of politics. There's no dispute about that. U.S.-France relations had been rocky since 2002. The following year, the Hollywood war epic Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World portrayed a British warship beating France's mightiest vessel in a cowboy-hero fantasy style.

The film was grandiose, and Russell Crowe's performance was flawless, but the box office taught Miramax and its partners a lesson.

If Charles recalled correctly, Fahrenheit 9/11 was indeed awarded the Palme d'Or at this year's Cannes closing ceremony.

This year's Cannes jury president was Quentin Tarantino. Who is Quentin Tarantino? He's the top henchman and sidekick of Harvey Weinstein.

Philip's eyes lit up, and he asked, "No North American distributors have taken Fahrenheit 9/11 yet. Should we?"

Charles hesitated internally. The box office for Fahrenheit 9/11 was impressive, but he shook his head. "Philip, Carpe Films already has two controversial movies: The Passion of the Christ and Brokeback Mountain. One deals with religion, the other with homosexuality. Both are highly controversial but don't have much political impact.

Fahrenheit 9/11 has a lot of celebrity and public support, but Carpe Films can't risk antagonizing the White House to distribute this movie. Even if there's no immediate impact, it'll come back to haunt us."

Charles wasn't being timid; he just knew that getting involved with such a politically charged film would affect Carpe Films' future. Smaller companies might not mind, but growing ones certainly would face troubles.

Why else would so many independent distributors refuse to take it on? They couldn't see the commercial value of the documentary?

Let Lionsgate handle it; they specialize in all sorts of niche B-movie markets, focusing on low-budget series without much need for cooperation with the U.S. government.

In the past, Fahrenheit 9/11 was the most successful film released by Lionsgate before Saw.

Philip nodded, recognizing the substantial pressure involved in distributing Fahrenheit 9/11.

After Philip left, Charles moved to the massive floor-to-ceiling window, overlooking the beautiful Bay of Napoule and the Balearic Sea.

Both were parts of the Mediterranean, offering beautiful scenery and pleasant weather. Charles changed into a T-shirt and shorts and headed straight for the beach.

Cannes' five-mile-long blue beach always attracted many tourists, especially during the film festival.

Looking at the luxurious yachts docked at Cannes harbor, Charles thought he should get a private luxury yacht for himself too.

On the third day in Cannes, he started watching movies in various screening rooms. After all, the Cannes Film Festival had a significant number of films, and each competition section required many entries.

There were completed films, rough cuts, promotional clips, and even film pitches seeking investors.

The Cannes Film Festival was essentially a grand mix, providing a global platform for different films to market themselves.

For three straight days, Charles didn't find a single film he recalled or deemed suitable for U.S. distribution.

...

The Four Seasons Hotel on the coastal promenade was where Sony Classics had rented out office suites. Cannes was full of hotels where many film companies leased suites as temporary office spaces.

For instance, Carpe Productions was situated inside the Ritz-Carlton on the same promenade.

At the Four Seasons, Sony had arranged a small-scale ball, which Charles attended.

Charles Carpe met two Sony Classics executives, Michael Barker and Tom Bernard.

"Charles, long time no see. So it's true that Carpe Pictures is distributing movies on its own now?" Michael Barker remarked with a smile.

Charles touched his clean-shaven chin and responded with a smile, "Carpe Pictures is distributing movies ourselves to open more avenues!"

Suddenly, a voice called out, "Tom!" Harvey Weinstein and Quentin Tarantino approached together.

"Harvey, good evening!" Tom Bernard greeted the chubby Harvey Weinstein with a handshake.

"Charles, good evening. Congratulations, Carpe Productions has secured its place in the independent film world thanks to you!" Harvey Weinstein spoke to Charles like an elder.

"Good evening, Harvey. Independent films are doing great, thanks to you!" Charles shook his hand while holding back his disgust.

"Charles, could I borrow Tom and Michael for a chat?"

Charles nodded and walked to the other side with Quentin Tarantino.

"Charles, is Carpe Productions interested in any of the movies?"

Charles smiled. Quentin Tarantino's appearance had a certain abstract art quality. "There aren't many commercial films with distribution rights up for sale at this Cannes Film Festival."

"No, no, no, there is at least one. That's the documentary Fahrenheit 9/11. It's already in the main competition for the Palme d'Or," Quentin Tarantino explained, shaking his head.

Charles took a sip from his glass and glanced at the other side where Harvey Weinstein was enthusiastically persuading, then calmly said, "Why doesn't Miramax distribute Fahrenheit 9/11 themselves? It's Disney's independent label, after all?"

Quentin Tarantino smiled and took a sip from his glass. As the chairman of the jury for this year's Cannes Film Festival, he knew Fahrenheit 9/11 was likely to win the Palme d'Or.

At that time, the U.S. domestic market would face additional pressure. How could a Palme d'Or-winning film be unable to release in the U.S.?

"Excuse me for a moment, I need to use the restroom," Charles had no great fondness for this guy either. He was trying to persuade him to distribute Fahrenheit 9/11. Idiot!

After a few steps, a lady accidentally bumped into Charles, spilling some of her drink on him.

"Sir, I'm sorry!"

Charles held his temper, glanced at the wet spot on his chest, then looked at the lady who was dabbing him with a napkin.

"It's okay, it's okay!" He took the napkin from her and started drying himself.

"Can I help you find something to change into?" the lady offered.

"Alright, it is a bit uncomfortable," Charles hadn't paid much attention to the lady.

"Hello, I'm Marion Cotillard, a French actress," Marion Cotillard introduced herself while leading the way.

"Marion Cotillard!"

*****

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