The Cannes Film Festival is famous for its spirited arguments. This year’s festival saw its first big cinephile debate Wednesday, when jury president Pedro Almodóvar and festival newcomer Will Smith offered sharply opposing views on the festival’s Netflix controversy during the jury press conference.
After including two Netflix titles—Noah Baumbach’s The Meyerowitz Stories and Bong Joon-ho’s Okja—among those contending for the Palme d’Or this year, Cannes reversed course with a new rule announced last week. Beginning next year, the festival will only admit films in competition that have French theatrical releases, which the Netflix films so far do not.
During the press conference, the Spanish director and American movie star argued opposing sides of the issue. Almodóvar staked out a firm position in support of the new policy and seemed to suggest that the two Netflix films vying for the Palme d’Or this year have no shot.
“I personally don’t perceive the Palme d’Or [should be] given to a film that is then not seen on the big screen,” Almodóvar said to the room full of international journalists assembled at the Palais. “All this doesn’t mean that I am not open or celebrate new technologies and opportunities, but [as long as] I’m alive I’ll be fighting for the capacity of hypnosis of the large screen for the viewer."
Smith, who has the big-budget Netflix movie Bright on the way, spoke as the voice of the streaming generation. “I have a 16-year-old and an 18-year-old and a 24-year-old at home,” Smith said. “They go to the movies twice a week, and they watch Netflix. In my home, Netflix has had absolutely no effect on what they go to the movie theater to watch. . . . Netflix has been nothing but an absolute benefit. [My kids] watch films they otherwise wouldn’t have seen. It has broadened my children’s global cinematic comprehension.”
In addition to Almodóvar and Smith, this year’s jury also includes Jessica Chastain , Italian director Paolo Sorrentino, German director Maren Ade, South Korean director Park Chan-wook, Chinese star Fan Bingbing, French actress Agnes Jaoui, and French-Lebanese composer Gabriel Yared .
Most of the jurors kept a tone of reserve at the press conference, which relied on the help of several translators to field questions on fashion and the female gaze. (You can watch the full press conference here.) But Smith supplied a dose of irreverence.
“This is a huge opportunity for me,” Smith said in an interview before the press conference began. “I’m looking forward to being less dumb than when I arrived. I’m looking forward to slamming my hand on the table and saying, “I disagree!’ I’m looking forward to a jury scandal.”
