In the Cannes?

Six hours sleep over three days in the pursuit of the dream, and I'm finally back from the 61st International Film Festival of Cannes, knackered but truly inspired.

After many meetings, both pre-organised and spontaneously negotiated, with representatives from international sales companies, distribution, financial institutions, co-production entities, and film commissions, I'm fired up to close finance on an entire slate of projects that have captured the imagination of those to whom smart, verbal quick-fire pitches were spurted. It's been an amazing experience and one I want to repeat next year - hopefully with a fist of new films to follow up those from this year that will have, fingers crossed, headed into production.

With a spread of four projects, including Hotel Caledonia (which incidentally was seeking to tie up finance) the response from those who listened to the pitches was awesome and I now have a few contact emails to send ahead of confirming appointments to discuss the projects more fully once all parties concerned are back in 'Blighty' - no hot air, as can sometimes be the case, but real, on-the-money discussions.

Part of the problem with film festivals is working out how to cut through the bluster, the feigning of interest, and the pleasantries of those well placed to help but who by virtue of their tanned complexions, hot female companions, and eagerness to quoff other's free champagne, have a tendency towards disingenuous promises, to find those people who really want to talk movies, finance, and opportunity.

Thankfully, at present at least, I feel that my journey to Cannes has been fantastically worthwhile and is something I'd recommend to anyone wanting to stay inspired if the graft of project development, and the disappointment of knockback, has left you feeling that perhaps the industry doesn't need you. Think again! You may not return home with any firm offers of any kind but the encouragement of networking and seeing what others are doing, even under their own steam, will leave you desperate to get your hands on a camera, or a PC, to make your next story come alive.

In this instance, however, even those projects yet to begin their finance-searching journeys have come under the spotlight of production interest and now have investment opportunities to explore. That means that INFECTED and BASTILLE are, perhaps, finally on their way. I'll keep you posted on further progress as I have it.