Monday, best day of the week. This postulate, not easy to defend, is that of Thierry Frémaux, the general director of the Cannes Film Festival, who has got into the habit of presenting himself to the press on the Monday afternoon preceding the opening day of the biggest cinematographic event. of the world.
There, in a crowded press room where languages, clothing styles and 5G keys decked out with picturesque names in available wifi networks rubbed shoulders, Thierry Frémaux presented himself, dark suit, sky blue shirt open collar with a badge a the effigy of Ukraine on the lapel of his jacket.
We speak, in a beautiful dialogue, with the CGT, we will see. It is true that Cannes is protected for 15 days but is also a target
“I like all the questionslaughs the owner of the place, but we are only going to talk about the films that are in official competition“, to follow up on a question from a Japanese colleague about the absence of a film in the selection. While the screenwriters’ strike is raging in the USA and social movements could target the FIF, Thierry Frémaux tempered, teasingly, with: “It’s not about cinema”.
“Regarding the strike in Hollywood, I do not know the consequences for the Festival, we must respect all that but we will see”. And a power outage in Cannes with social unrest? “We are talking, in a beautiful dialogue, with the CGT, we will see. It is true that Cannes is protected for 15 days but is also a target.”
The Cannes boss has also listed the concerns of Cannes outside the cinema: Ukraine and the climate in particular. “Cannes is not only presenting an official selection but rather echoing a certain era“. But in this international press conference, everyone defends their cinema, their country.
Thus, when a colleague pointed out to him that German cinema is very well represented in this 2023 vintage, Frémaux has the appropriate response: “When I arrived in Cannes, at the beginning of the 2000s, there were always tensions between the Festival and German cinema which felt that it was not sufficiently represented here. We have improved, I think. Sandra Hüller is doubly present in this official competition with two films, “Zone Of Interest” and “Anatomy of a fall”, and Wim Wenders spoke to me last year about a film about someone who cleans public toilets. At the time, I didn’t pay attention to it. And then, we saw his film during the preselections and he has all the qualities for the competition ».
Johnny Depp and the box office
Jealous, the Italians go there with their question since the boot offers three films in competition: “It is a paradoxical situation because Italian cinema has not been supported by the government for forty years and yet there has never been a halt in creation. There are still poets, new voices and we are very happy to receive them in Cannes”.
Between two questions on the cinema, a common question takes shape on the computer hiccups of the online ticket office which, every morning, make barge all those who seek to obtain a precious sesame: “IT improves things but also makes them more complex, we cannot serve everyone. We refused 10,000 festival-goers, there is a problem with cinemas, at least one large hall is missing.
I don’t know the situation of Johnny Depp in the USA
The choice of Ruben Ostlund as president of the jury? “We wanted a woman but it didn’t happen and then Ruben is in full creative effervescence. It’s a way, through him, to salute Sweden and also Scandinavia”engages Frémaux before detailing the increase in the number of female directors in competition: “Seven women directors is the sign of an evolution, we are working a lot on the issue of parity at all levels, from the selection committees to the management of the Festival” he continues before being questioned about the presence of Johnny Depp on the poster of “Jeanne du Barry”, Maïwenn’s film, at the opening while the American has not toured in his country since his media trial against his ex-girlfriend, Amber Head, against a background of domestic violence. “We didn’t ask ourselves any questions about Johnny Depp when selecting him. I don’t know Johnny Depp’s situation in the USA, I’m only interested in Johnny Depp the actor”. A nice way to kick in touch.