Broadband Coverage and “Cannes Cam” to Complement On-Air Offerings
For those who can’t make the pilgrimage to the French Riviera this May, there’s no need to worry. The Independent Film Channel (IFC) will be on the red carpet at the Palais for the 53rd Annual Cannes International Film Festival. Viewers can rub elbows with throngs of celebs as they flock to the gala ceremonies and pose for the paparazzi, beginning Wednesday, May 10 at 1:30 PM/ET (encore broadcast at 8:00PM/ET) with IFC’s live, exclusive broadcast of the Festival’s Opening Ceremony. The ceremony jump starts the 12-day extravaganza showcasing the best from established directors as well as emerging talent.
Filmmakers and stars will gather from around the world to compete for top prizes at the Closing Ceremony on Sunday, May 21 at 1:30PM/ET (encore broadcast at 8:00PM/ET). Renowned film critic Roger Ebert will host the live presentation of awards which include the Jury Prize, Grand Jury Prize, Best Female Performance, Best Male Performance, and the highly sought-after Palme D’Or. No doubt the results of the competition will trigger speculations about what will be the hot films of the coming year. If this year’s event is anything like 1999, 2000 will be another stellar year for independent film.
High-school French a little rusty? No problem. IFC experts will translate the ceremony and cut through the clutter to tell it like it is with razor-sharp commentary about the stars as they arrive and mingle.
Film aficionados can also get an exclusive insider’s look at the festival on ifctv.com. IFC’s broadband and web components include a live cybercast of both ceremonies as well as festival updates, interviews and live chats with various figures from the indie film scene, clips from highlighted films, news, reviews and a live video feed providing 24-hour-a-day footage from the Palais as the festival unfolds.
Making sure viewers aren’t left hanging between Opening and Closing Ceremonies, IFC will present a movie marathon featuring two films each night from Wednesday, May 10 through Sunday, May 21. The line-up includes Apocalypse Now, which won the Palme D’Or in 1979, as well as other festival favorites Stealing Beauty, Sid & Nancy,
Prick Up Your Ears, Girl 6, Mac, Les Voleurs, Mrs. Parker & The Vicious Circle, Naked, Birdy, Crash, Jesus of Montreal, The Double Life of Veronique, and Pelle The Conqueror.
IFC’s sister network Bravo will also participate in Cannes fever with a weekend-long festival of films beginning Friday, May 19 leading up to a presentation of the Closing Ceremony on Sunday, May 21. Bravo’s slate includes Secrets & Lies, Of Mice and Men, Miles From Home, Stealing Beauty, and The Madness of King George.
The Independent Film Channel (IFC), managed and operated by Bravo Networks, is the first channel dedicated to independent film presented 24 hours a day, uncut and commercial-free. The Independent Film Channel, reaching more than 30 million homes on a full-time basis, is the most widely distributed channel dedicated to independent film on television.
Contact:
Elektra Gray
(516) 803-4542
egray@rainbow-media.com