Friday, May 17 marked another vibrant day at The American Pavilion during the Cannes International Film Festival, with a lineup of thought-provoking discussions and a special film unveiling event. Here's a recap of the day's highlights:
3:00 PM | INDUSTRY IN FOCUS: DOCUMENTARIES
The afternoon commenced with a compelling conversation titled "Industry in Focus: Documentaries". With the question of what comes next after the "Golden Age" of documentaries looming, industry experts delved into the current state of documentaries in the marketplace. The esteemed panel included:
Sara Bernstein, President of Imagine Documentaries
Matt Burke, VP of Sales at Submarine
Nanette Burstein, Filmmaker of Elizabeth Taylor: The Lost Tapes (Cannes Classics)
Deborah Riley Draper, Filmmaker of James Brown: Say it Loud
John Sloss, Founder & CEO of Cinetic Media
The discussion was moderated by Stewart Clarke, Senior Vice President of Content, International, at Deadline.
4:30 PM | INDUSTRY IN FOCUS: FILM FESTIVALS
Following that, the spotlight shifted to the role of film festivals in the indie film ecosystem in the panel "Industry in Focus: Film Festivals". Representatives from influential festivals in the U.S. gathered to discuss the challenges they face and how they continue to foster connections between filmmakers and audiences. The panelists included:
Claudette Godfrey, VP of Film & TV at SXSW
Mimi Plauche, Artistic Director of the Chicago International Film Festival
Paul Rachman, Co-founder of Slamdance
Anu Rangachar, Artistic Director of the Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles
The panel was moderated by Matt Donnelly, Senior Entertainment & Media Writer at Variety.
6:00 PM | UNVEILING 'THE GLASSWORKER'
The day concluded with the unveiling of "The Glassworker", presented by the Pakistani Crescent Collective. Attendees were treated to a historic talk with the team behind Pakistan's first 2D Hand Drawn Feature, ahead of its premiere at Annecy. The panelists included:
Usman Riaz, Director
Khizer Riaz, Producer
The event was moderated by Mohammed Ali Naqvi, Chairman of the Pakistani Academy Selection Committee.
About The American Pavilion
For over 30 years, The American Pavilion has been the epicenter of activity for the American film community at the Cannes International Film Festival. Since its debut in 1989, The Pavilion has provided hospitality and communication services to thousands of Americans attending the Cannes Film Festival and Marché. It offers a range of facilities and services, including membership for the international film community, insightful programming, the Emerging Filmmaker Showcase, immersive student programs, and more.
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