The words “Cannes” and “film” conjure up images of glamorous actresses walking up the famous red-carpeted steps of the Palais des Festivals.

But Cannes is also host each May to another film event that brings together some of the industry’s top business, legal and financial experts. In fact, without this gathering, the better known film extravaganza would probably not exist.

Given today’s current financial climate, ICC’s 23rd conference on International Audiovisual Law, to be held on 15 May, will focus on risk assessment and management during the economic downturn.

The morning session will look at financial risks and solutions in the filmmaking business, with the afternoon dedicated to risks and solutions in the film distribution process.

“All of the operative people in the international motion picture industry have been hearing a great deal of negative talk about the difficulties of finance, production and distribution in these times. To some extent, these can be self-fulfilling prophecies of doom,” says Gary O. Concoff of TroyGould, Los Angeles, who will chair the morning session.

“It is our feeling that emphasis on solutions to the management of risk for investors, lenders or providers of subsidy have existed for a long time and bear emphasizing,” Mr Concoff adds. “In addition, there are a number of financing, production and distribution solutions which are of current or recent development. This program is designed to describe and emphasize those solutions and how they might be accessed. In other words, ‘Keep your sunny side up!’”

In addition to Mr Concoff, distinguished speakers will include Ted Shapiro, Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Deputy Managing Director, EMEA, Motion Picture Association European Office; Steve Bersch, President, Sony Pictures World-wide Acquisitions Group (SPWAG), USA; Hal Sadoff, Head of International and Independent Film ICM International Creative Management; Pierre David, Chairman-CEO, Imagination Worldwide, LLC, USA and Jérôme Paillard, Executive Director of the Marché du Film.

The financial risks session will include an overview of the various loan financing possibilities and examine the special collateral sources such as insurance policies, film libraries, guarantees, slate financing, cross-collateralization, and risk sharing by advances.

“Our experts will dissect a number of cutting edge distribution issues that should spark a lively debate,” Mr Shapiro said. “We look forward to welcoming ‘regulars’ and seeing some new faces as we discuss positive approaches in the current climate.”

The afternoon session, chaired by Mr Shapiro, will analyze the threat to territorial licensing in the European Union, the role of collecting societies in the audio-visual sector, and major studio distribution and production. The distribution of modest budget pictures in the independent world and the worldwide distribution of US films are also on the agenda.

The conference will be held under the direction of the ICC Institute of World Business Law.

Participants will be granted free access to the Marché du Film on Thursday 14 and Friday 15 May, as well as the possibility to register for the rest of the Festival at a special rate.

For a copy of the conference program, please  click here 

For further information, please contact:
Katharine Bernet
Events Department
Tel: +33 1 49 53 28 91
Email: kbt@iccwbo.org