By Andrew Threlfall
Some events feel historic. Across the Mediterranean, thousands of miles east of the Cote d’Azur, a battle for human survival raged in Gaza. In the South of France, MIPCOM CANNES, the world’s premier TV festival, launched against that backdrop. This was potentially a difficult moment for the festival to concentrate on, but storytelling and escapism felt somehow more fitting and timely than ever.
Add the knowledge that we are staying in more and more to watch television – unconventionally, yes, and the unique position of this festival to bring together the world’s TV industry – 100 countries, 11,000+ industry leaders, including 3,500+ buyers and the sheer scale of collaboration across borders felt even more triumphant than previous years.
Big Business for the Small Screen
“Given the buzz from the stands, what the leaders have said on stage, and the sheer volume of content deals done, it is clear that third-party sales and distribution are back.” Lucy Smith, Director of MIPCOM CANNES told me: “MIPCOM has a unique position of bringing together 100 countries, and that concentration of activity in one place, at one time, can only be a catalyst (to the international market overall). ‘Andrew, you’ve actually hosted MIP for us, so you’re in the perfect position to see the growth.’
The healthy exponential post-pandemic participation at this October’s market underlined just how vibrant content sales and acquisitions were, plus the rapidly developing international FAST channel business and an ever-increasing appetite for international co-products on partnerships.
A Growing Global Audience
The penultimate day of the market – recognised as the last frenetic day of activity – recorded results of a third year of growth for the mother of all entertainment content markets, with an increase in overall attendance from 2022’s 10,800. The total included a rise in buyers with over 3500 attending in 2023, an increase of 10% year on year, with most hailing from the US, followed by the UK, France, Germany and Spain. Over 320 companies exhibited in and around the Palais des Festivals, with 31 countries occupying separate pavilions. Impressively, 50 companies made their debut with stands at the market.
Significant delegation increases were seen from China, MIPCOM’s 2023 Country of Honour, with their biggest representation since 2019 of over 300 delegates from 40 companies, and also from the Middle East, from where more than 160 buyers visited Cannes, an increase of 50% year on year. Casting an eye over the Mediterranean towards the Middle East shores, this figure felt particularly triumphant.
Young Viewers Watching Around The World
For two days prior to MIPCOM, the International Kids Screenings & Co-production Market MIPJUNIOR welcomed over 1200 delegates from 63 countries confirming its position as the annual meeting point for the Kids sector.
MIPCOM CANNES Extends The Red Carpet From Cannes to Your Sofa
If you miss the famous Cannes Film Festival, then you can experience the glamour of small-screen entertainment at the world’s biggest television festival, MIPCOM. The international television market, MIPTV is also held in Cannes each April, see accreditation details below. I was honoured to be asked to be a presenter for MIP TV, the festival’s official television channel and was fortunate to interview stars like Dennis Quaid and Kate Bosworth, superchef Nigella Lawson, as well as Elvis’s granddaughter Riley Keough. Long nights and parties, the equal of the film festival, ensure lots of fun.
Accommodation Tip
The group of apartments I’ve called home for many years of MIPCOM and the Film Festival are available throughout the summer. They have double and single bedrooms, sofa, kitchen and bathroom and are located 60 seconds drive from the train station in Cannes. DM me on my Instagram account here, and I’ll be happy to share contact details.
MIPTV is held from 8-10 April 2024, Palais des Festivals, Cannes
And PRE-MIPTV the Unscripted Weekend, featuring MIPDOC and MIPFORMATS, is 6-7 April 2024
The 40th edition of MIPCOM CANNES will take place 21-24 October 2024 with MIPJUNIOR returning to its pre-market slot of 19-20 October 2024.
Images curtesy MIPCOM CANNES and RX France. Credits from title image down:
© Megret – Hautier / Image & Co
© S. d’HALLOY / IMAGE&CO
© 360 Media
© Megret – Hautier / Image & Co
© S. d’HALLOY / IMAGE&CO
© S. d’HALLOY / IMAGE&CO
You may also like to read about our recent visit to see great masters in the Louvre and hear music resonating from a landscape carved by industrial search for coal in Lens and Lille, northern France, here
