Netflix Bails on Cannes Over Theatrical Release Mandate

Netflix will not submit its original films to this year’s Cannes Film Festival, following a 2017 mandate that all eligible titles must get a theatrical release in France to be included in the festival’s main competition, TheWrap has learned.

Netflix’s prospective competition titles included Jeremy Saulnier’s Jeffrey Wright drama “Hold the Dark,” Alfonso Cuaron’s “Roma” and potentially David Mackenzie’s Chris Pine period drama “Outlaw King.” Paul Greengrass’ “Norway” is also on the horizon at the streaming service, though not all are thought to be completed or ready for screening.

The company also had Orson Welles’ “The Other Side of the Wind” — a film the legendary director never finished before his death in 1985. Netflix did it for him, with some change they found in the couch.

The entry would have been a lock for Cannes Classics category, along with Morgan Neville’s documentary about their completing it.

The Cannes rule requiring a French theatrical release did not apply to out-of-competition sections like Cannes Classics, and Netflix could have submitted its films for consideration in those sections. But it opted not to do so.

Also Read: Netflix Announces Acquisition of Seth Rogen - All of Him (Video)

News of Netflix’s withdrawal was first reported in a Variety Q&A with Netflix Chief Content Officer Ted Sarandos. A Netflix spokesperson would not comment further.

Representatives from Netflix’s feature film acquisitions team are expected to attend the festival, according to an individual familiar with their plans, thought it’s unclear if film division head Scott Stuber will be among the attendees.

The prestigious festival made its rule change following protests from European theater owners, who hit the ceiling last year when Netflix strutted titles like Tilda Swinton’s “Okja” in the main competition despite the company’s plans to only stream the film on its digital service and bypass a traditional theatrical release.

“Netflix has been avoiding French regulation and fiscal obligations. These rules allow for the financing of our strong film industry and ecosystem which in turns allows for many French and foreign movies selected at Cannes to get made,” French theater owners said in a joint statement at the time.

Steve Pond contributed to this report.

The 17 Tackiest Cannes PR Stunts, From Blake Lively's Sharks to Sacha Baron Cohen's Mankini (Photos)

From a faux terrorist attack to sharks in the French Riviera, promoters often miss the mark with their gaudy Cannes PR stunts.

Getty Images
Faux “Terror Raid” to Promote Oraxy
Guests at Hotel du Cap Eden-Roc got a surprise visit by men outfitted in militia-themed gear last year, who approached the hotel by boat. It was a publicity stunt for the Paris-based Oraxy, which describes itself as “the world’s first private global marketplace reserved exclusively for UHNWI,” or Ultra High Net Worth Individuals.

Splash News
Sacha Baron Cohen Wears Green Mankini
In 2006, Sacha Baron Cohen sported a bright green male thong known as the “mankini” to promote “Borat! Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan.”

Twitter
Sacha Baron Cohen Brings a Camel
In 2012, “The Dictator” actor turned up with two model bodyguards and a camel. He even managed to fall off the camel, which bore a license plate with “Wadiya 1” on it – a reference to the fictional North African Republic of Wadiya, where “The Dictator” was set.

YouTube
T.J. Miller Parachutes in to Debut "Emoji Movie" Trailer
To promote Sony’s “The Emoji Movie,” T.J. Miller parasailed into Cannes before unveiling a trailer for the film, in which he voices Gene, the Meh emoji. Emojis don't feel very Cannes.

Getty Images
"The Shallows" Brings in Fake Sharks
To promote Blake Lively's nautical horror film, Screen Gems planted fake sharks in the French Riviera.

Getty Images
Faux Snow for "A Christmas Carol"
Disney tapped Jim Carrey for a new version of “A Christmas Carol” in 2009 — and decided to bring the holiday spirit to Cannes by covering the Croisette with snow. Not the best example of reading the room or, in this case, the luxurious French beach town in the middle of May. Shout out to Robin Wright and Colin Firth in the background for looking horrified at the faux snowball fight.

Getty Images
Jerry Seinfeld Flies In to Promote "Bee Movie"
In 2007, Jerry Seinfeld took Cannes by air to promote his big animated push for Disney, for which he served as writer and star and recruited pals like Chris Rock. His giant bee costume might have been worse than his notorious “Seinfeld” puffy shirt.

Getty Images
Angelina Jolie, Will Smith Ride Inflatable Shark
Will Smith, Angelina Jolie and Jack Black rode a 14-foot inflatable shark to promote "Shark Tale" in 2004.

Getty Images
"Trolls" Wigs
Anna Kendrick and Justin Timberlake promoted "Trolls" in 2016 with an array of women wearing bright-colored outfits and wigs reminiscent of the costumes in the movie. Also, they're all in gowns -- a play on Cannes fashion?

Getty Images
Gaspar Noe’s Graphic Makeout Posters to Promote “Love”
Gaspar Noe at first shocked -- and then satisfied -- critics with his depiction of sex on film. He was praised for depicting the joyous and fervent act and staying mostly out of the realm of straight-up pornography. Promoting the film, however, was a different story. Producers wallpapered Cannes in posters of a saliva-covered triple kiss and an NSFW image of a penis and a woman's breast after climax.

Indiewire
Dolph Lundgren, Jean-Claude Van Damme Hold Impromptu Stage Fight
Both "Universal Soldier" actors held a stage fight on the steps of a famed staircase in 1992. Many believed it was real, but Lundgren told The Hollywood Reporter that it was planned.

TriStar
Dead pigeons for "24 Hour Party People"
In 2002, actors impersonating the band Happy Mondays mimicked a scene of the movie by throwing fake dead pigeons from the beach onto unsuspecting victims, who believed thousands of dead birds were falling from the sky, the BBC reported.

Film4
Naked Bike Rides
Felix van Groeningen, the filmmaker behind “The Misfortunates,” decided to recreate a scene from his film where a dysfunctional family rides bikes in the nude. Just hours before a press conference, the director and his team disrobed and flew down the Croisette in the buff. A staffer on a motorcycle followed with their underwear, in case French police got a gander at them.

Getty Images
The Cast of "The Expendables 3" Comes Out in Three Tanks

Producer Avi Lerner got three English World War II-era tanks into France to promote "The Expendables 3" in 2014. This wasn't all fun and games, as Lerner had to sign an affidavit to the government of France to ensure that his stunt wasn't interpreted as a declaration of war.

Loic Venance/AFP/Getty Images
Howard Stern and His "Private Parts"

Radio legend Howard Stern had a 40-foot inflated balloon of himself naked near the beach to promote his 1997 biopic "Private Parts." However, France's then-President Jaques Chirac was visiting Cannes and his security detail considered the balloon too crude to remain up. Though when Chirac left, Stern and his team reinflated it.

AP Photo/Lionel Cironneau
It's a Bird! It's a Plane!

To promote "Superman," Alexander Salkind--who was the film's supervisor--and Ilya, his son, hired prop planes to fly around the Croisette in 1975. In 1976, they got even more planes and in 1977, they hired a whole fleet of planes.

Warner Bros. Pictures/Photofest
Arnold Schwarzenegger's Muscle Pose

While promoting his bodybuilding-centered documentary film, "Pumping Iron," Arnold Schwarzenegger posed in a Speedo with a group of fully-clothed women to a beach audience.

AP Photo