Europe Major Market Marché du Film 2026 – Cannes Film Market (May 12–21)

[Adam Films]

Fully agree with the points above, everyone’s basically pointing in the same direction.

Cannes is still the strongest market, it just doesn’t work the same way it did 10–15 years ago.
It used to be more meetings = better, now it’s clearly shifting toward fewer, more targeted meetings.
Decentralization is probably the biggest change.
The Palais is more like a hub now, and real deal flow happens in hotels, apartments, and cafés.
If your logistics aren’t tight, you can easily lose hours just moving around.

The payment/reliability point is very real.
Smaller companies, higher risk.
Bigger companies, slower, more bureaucratic.
So it’s not about who says yes in Cannes, but who can actually execute after.

One thing I’d add:
Cannes today is as much an info market as a deal market.
A lot of the value comes from understanding demand, genres, territories, and pricing not just closing deals on the spot.

On company selection, I also use a layered approach:
1–2 major sales agents (reach),
a few strong regional buyers (faster deals),

Boutique companies (more flexibility).
Personal note: the best conversations rarely happen in official 20-minute meetings, but over coffee, lunch, or between meetings.

Overall, Cannes didn’t get weaker.
It just became a smarter market.
If you understand that, huge value.
If not, expensive chaos.

Exactly my thoughts. I’ve been attending Cannes and the Marché du Film for quite a few years now, and I completely agree with the points made above the market has definitely shifted from "volume" to "value." It's no longer about how many meetings you can cram into a day, but about who is actually capable of executing a deal. Here are a few of my personal takeaways and "survival" tips for this year:

Logistics are key: Don't underestimate the walk! If you have a meeting in the Palais followed by one in a hotel down the Croisette, give yourself at least 20 minutes. Arriving stressed and sweaty is never a good look for a pitch. Wear comfortable shoes nobody cares about your sneakers anymore, only your projects.

Do your homework on Cinando: I start vetting buyers weeks in advance. Look at their recent acquisitions. If they bought 3 horrors last year, they might be looking for something else now. Don't waste your "golden slots" on the wrong targets.

The power of the Pavilions: While the massive yacht parties are fewer, the smaller cocktail hours at the National Pavilions in the Village International are gold mines for networking. It's much easier to get a "yes" when the atmosphere is a bit more relaxed.

Vetting for reliability: Regarding the payment issues mentioned it’s a real risk. Always do a quick background check on smaller indies. If a deal looks too good to be true, ask around. Word travels fast in this industry.

The "Nespresso Hub": Since fewer companies have stands in the Palais due to the insane costs, that upstairs coffee counter is practically the unofficial office for many of us.

This year, I’m sticking to the layered approach:

Mornings: Major sales agents for broad reach.

Afternoons: Focused regional distributors for concrete deals.

Good luck to everyone see you at the Nespresso counter!