CANNES 2026 | Sconti e suggerimenti da WIFTI e Stage 32

Con l’avvicinarsi del Festival di Cannes e del Marché du Film, Amanda Toney, amministratrice delegata di Stage 32, partner e collaboratori di WIFTI, condivide alcuni consigli pratici su come preparare il proprio progetto per il mercato globale odierno.

Amanda illustra gli aspetti chiave su cui i/le filmmakers dovrebbero concentrarsi prima di arrivare a Cannes; inoltre, nell’ambito della nostra collaborazione con Stage 32, le persone iscritte a WIFTMI e in regola per il 2026 possono usufruire di sconti speciali sui loro programmi di formazione professionale.

IN ENGLISH

Stage 32 Presents – Planning for Cannes: How to Prepare Your Film for Today’s Global Marketplace

Every year, as we head into the Cannes Film Festival and the Marché du Film, I see the same thing happen.
There’s a wave of excitement, opportunity, and momentum – but also a lot of uncertainty.

Because while Cannes remains one of the most important global markets for film, the reality is this: the way projects are getting financed, packaged, and sold right now has changed dramatically. And showing up with a great idea alone isn’t enough anymore.

You need a package that makes sense in today’s market.

That’s something we’ve been very focused on at Stage 32 – helping our global community understand not just how to create, but how to position their work so it actually moves forward. And, as an Education Partner of the Cannes Marche du Film for 10 years, we work to bring you the most updated education you need to be successful.

What Buyers and Financiers Are Looking for Right Now
One of the biggest shifts we’re seeing – especially heading into Cannes – is that buyers, sales agents, and financiers are looking for clarity and strategy.
That means:

• A project that understands its audience and market position
• A finance plan that reflects today’s global landscape
• A package that aligns talent, budget, and distribution realistically

• Advanced Film Finance & Profitability – understanding how films are actually structured financially today
• Global Tax Incentives – how to leverage international rebates and co-production opportunities
• Attracting Equity Investment – what private investors are looking for and how to present your project
• Working with Sales Agents & Buyers – how projects get picked up in the current marketplace
• European Compliance (DSM Directive) – what you need to know if you’re operating internationally

• Packaging Your Project – aligning your script, talent, financing, and strategy into something that can move

• Benefits of attending the Marché du Film (MDF)
• How to navigate MDF (ie. badges, layout)
• How the Market Works
• Inside the Palais / Outside the Palais
• How Screenings Work
• What to Expect for Programming 2026
• Country of Honor – Japan
• What’s New for 2026?

• Daniel Bekerman – Oscar and Cannes Palme d’Or Nominated Producer
• Tiffany Boyle – Cannes Palme d’Or Nominated Producer and President, Packaging & Sales, Ramo Law
• Richard Botto – Producer, Screenwriter, CEO, Stage 32
• Tonia Sotiropoulou – Actor (SKYFALL:007), Producer

Sunday May 17: Cannes Film Festival 2026 Stage 32 Meetup (OFFICIAL)
Brown Sugar Pub
Sunday, May 17 | 6:00–8:00 PM (Cannes Time)
Those who have attended Cannes over the last decade know that the Stage 32 Cannes Meetup has become one of the most anticipated and talked-about gatherings of the entire festival. It’s where real connections are made, collaborations begin, and the global creative community comes together in a meaningful way.
This year, we’re excited to bring that experience to a new home.
For 2026, the Stage 32 Cannes Meetup will be held as part of our Stage 32 Pop-Up Bar Event: RB & Gary’s Brown Sugar, where we’ll be taking over the iconic Brown Sugar Gastro Pub for the full weekend. Located in the heart of Cannes on the Carré d’Or, Brown Sugar is one of the festival’s most well-known and beloved gathering spots, making it the perfect setting to combine the magic of Cannes with the magic of Stage 32.

Why We Focus So Much on This at Stage 32
One of the things I’m most proud of is that Stage 32 has become a place where creatives around the world can access this kind of information directly.
We now have over a million members globally, and every month we’re bringing in the people who are actively financing, producing and selling content – not to speak in theory, but to share what’s actually working right now.
Because the truth is, this industry is still very relationship-driven – but access to those relationships and insights shouldn’t be limited by geography.

Final Thought
If you’re heading into Cannes or even just thinking about how your project fits into today’s market – my biggest advice is this:

Don’t wait until you’re there to figure it out.
The stronger and more intentional your package is going in, the more meaningful your conversations will be – and the more likely your project is to move forward.

We’re here to help you do that.

Amanda Toney
Managing Director, Stage 32