CANNES - A FESTIVAL VIRGIN'S GUIDE
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Does the festival accept digital films?
Although there are no rules regarding shooting formats, only films with a 35mm print are currently screened at the festival. This rule is relaxed for films in the Cinéfondation sidebar (and occasionally for the International Critics' Week), for which 16mm prints are also accepted. At this point in time, the festival does not screen video of any kind.
It is likely that this requirement will change at some point in the not-too-distant future as digital exhibition becomes more wide-spread. Indeed, the number of digital screenings at the festival has increased in recent years, but historically these have only been for "event films," such as James Cameron's Ghosts of the Abyss or George Lucas' Star Wars Episode III - Revenge of the Sith.
On the other hand, the Festival may wish to keep the film-only policy for some time to come, since the cost associated with producing 35mm prints also has the convenient effect of keeping the number of submissions to a manageable level.
For the full run-down on attending the Cannes Film Festival, make sure you pick up a copy of Cannes - A Festival Virgin's Guide.