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The opportunity to be part of an Official Selection film In Competition at the Cannes Film Festival doesn’t come around often. So when Renoir – a Japanese feature film I had the privilege of colour grading – was selected to compete for the Palme d’Or, I jumped at the chance to fly to Nice, support the film, and experience the world’s most prestigious film festival.
Prepping for the Festival
I’m grateful to Akanga Film Asia (the Singapore co-producer), IMDA Singapore, and Loaded Films (the Japanese production company) for supporting my attendance. Preparing for the trip was a task in itself – securing an accreditation badge, navigating the various screening venues, and booking tickets for films I wanted to catch. Tickets had to be reserved four days in advance, and they were usually snapped up within seconds. Fastest fingers first!
The one ticket I didn’t need to book for, however, was the gala premiere of Renoir, which I was invited to attend as part of the film crew.
A Red Carpet Moment
On the afternoon of the premiere, I gathered at the Carlton Hotel with the rest of the film’s cast and crew. As I left to join the second car in the BMW motorcade, I must have been mistaken for someone important as someone handed me a pen and paper for an autograph! (Which I declined to sign, of course…)
The motorcade brought us to the iconic steps of the Grand Théâtre Lumière. I’d walked through the entrance before for regular screenings, but this time was different. Walking the red carpet in a tuxedo, without the crowds and in front of a sea of photographers, was absolutely surreal.
Inside the theatre, I watched the live feed of the main cast and crew posing their way up the steps, projected onto the giant screen. As they entered the theatre, I welcomed them with applause along with the rest of the audience.
Watching Renoir on the Big Screen
It was a treat to see Renoir play out on the huge screen of one of the most iconic cinemas in the world. Naturally, I inspected the grade when the film began (and yes – it looked exactly as it should!). Only then did I relax into the experience, and I found that it still hit all the right emotional notes as with the previous times that I’d seen it.
When the credits rolled and the lights came on, the theatre erupted into a standing ovation for director Chie Hayakawa and lead actors Yui Suzuki, Hikari Ishida, and Lily Franky. I felt so happy for Chie-san, director of photography Hide-san, the producers and the rest of the crew for the appreciation of their achievement in this moment.
The Global Filmmaking Village
The celebration continued at the afterparty, where I mingled with the French crew and new acquaintances from other countries. Festival de Cannes, after all, isn’t just about watching and celebrating some of the best films that the world has to offer; it’s also about meeting and connecting with filmmakers from around the world.
Running alongside the festival was the Marché du Film, one of the largest film markets in the world. I attended talks and networking sessions there, including the Renoir co-production panel hosted by VIPO, as well as the Cannes Docs events.
Beyond the official film market venues around the Palais des Festivals, events took place at the Village International to nearby hotels and bars. IMDA Singapore hosted several memorable gatherings, including the Singapore-Philippines Networking Hour and the SG in Cannes Cocktails event, both of which were fantastic opportunities to sharpen my pitch, both in formal and informal settings.
Dressing Up is Part of the Experience
Cannes is a very walkable city. Every major location is within strolling distance, and with the festival’s buzz in the air and the Mediterranean spring weather in full swing, it was no surprise to be surrounded by fashionable people everywhere I went.
It was a natural place for me to blend in with my vintage wardrobe in the cooler weather, which felt liberating compared to tropical Singapore!
Final Thoughts
Attending the Cannes Film Festival in support of Renoir went beyond what I imagined. It opened my eyes to the truly global nature of the film industry, and affirmed just how international the craft of filmmaking – including colour grading – has become.
The experience has left me feeling inspired, and I look forward to more opportunities in the future to travel, celebrate cinema, and collaborate with storytellers from around the world.