Cannes 2024 - Re-structuring Film Industry Post-CoVid

Cannes Film Festival 2024 was a complete shocker for me, as it was for people that have been frequenting Cannes since 2009 (myself) or even before that (many regulars).

The shocker wasn't as much as about the selection of the films, as it was for the fact that in-spite of a record accreditations, the market was absolutely lull. I mean I haven't seen such a low market for ages. The fact that Hollywood in years didn't have any big-ticket releases queued up this summer or closer home, the no show of Indian films - might be an indication of things to unveil at the Marche du Film.

Though for me it was the best Cannes ever, few but focused meetings and all very concrete. It also exposed me to film-schools across the world - having lectured in about 12 film-schools worldwide with students from India, Nigeria, France, Germany, Australia, Kyrgyzstan, South-Africa, Philippines, Maldives, Indonesia, the UK and the USA - now Belgium, the Netherlands, Spain, Italy and Switzerland too and the Arab World of course! I shot a few shorts during Cannes and students from few film schools from Europe told me, even after finishing their course after paying 4.000 Euros, there is no work! I wasn't surprised, it is the same story at Indian film-schools.

They were more than eager to be part of Popcorn Flicks' Film Residency Program 2025. God willing!

Coming back to my takings from Cannes 2024 market, I took a break of one-year as I re-structured and the market firmly established that it was the best thing to do. Hopefully this re-structuring will mean good business. Why?

The fact, that five of the streaming platforms my films and content including 69 Opposites Attract, Honey Kapoor Origins and Cinema for Cause films were on shut down. The last in December 2023 and as I write this piece I get an email of yet another platform based in Europe and APAC announcing the shutdown!

The re-structuring is about opening my own channels. The idea germinated when one of the most reputed platforms in India offered me to open my own channel. The idea was cemented when one of the biggest platforms in the US offered me to open one as well!

Now I am working out, the marketing of the OTT as well as the content for the OTT - I don't back things that shut-down (touchwood!); so I am treading very, very cautiously.

Slated for a launch on the big Deepawali day (November 1) or Dhanteras day (October 30) - I hope to make the channel one of the most sought-after within 3-years.

I have always said with the huge costs in production involved today; co-production, cutting down over-heads and optimizing the content avenues are the only way forward for an indie-filmmaker.

Just to give you an idea, 99% of films made worldwide are indie films. There are 300,000 films made every year - how many film-titles are you aware of - 300, 3000, 30000 - in best case scenario only 10% - that is the huge market you are catering to!