Cannes 2024: Hollywood no-show, LGBTQ rise, AI debate

The 79th Cannes Film Festival concluded on May 23 with a notably subdued Hollywood presence, no major studio films on the red carpet, and a lineup that many critics described as weaker than previous years. Beneath the relative calm, the festival revealed shifting dynamics in the independent film industry, including the growing dominance of LGBTQ cinema, intensifying French industry protests against media conglomerate Canal, and an accelerating acceptance of artificial intelligence in filmmaking.

Hollywood studios largely stayed home, with filmmakers such as Christopher Nolan and Steven Spielberg bypassing the Croisette. The biggest red carpet crowd gathered for a midnight anniversary screening of “The Fast and the Furious,” a 25 year old Universal action franchise. Industry observers noted that Cannes faces increasing competition for prestige, as recent Warner Bros. successes that skipped the festival circuit suggest studios no longer see Cannes as essential for box office momentum.

LGBTQ cinema emerged as the defining trend of the festival. The biggest breakout hit was Jordan Firstman’s directorial debut “Club Kid,” a comedy about a gay nightlife promoter who discovers he has a...