SCA’s Cannes Classics program selected 12 students to cover film screenings and produce reviews at the renowned Cannes Film Festival this year, which will run May 14 to 25.
Held in Cannes, France, this event is one of the world’s premier film festivals. Each year it screens films of all genres, awarding the best film the prestigious Palme d’Or, which has previously been awarded to Francis Ford Coppola, David Lynch and most recently Justine Triet for her 2023 film “Anatomy of a Fall.”
To apply to the program, students must write a 3,000 to 10,000-character review of any two films, either from BFI/Sight and Sound’s top 100 list or a Palme d’Or winner. Along with the reviews, a cover letter is required detailing the personal importance of attending this event and how students are planning on supporting themselves during the trip since acceptance into the program does not include airfare, lodging or other expenses.
Senior Director of Festivals and Distribution Sandrine Cassidy seeks to ease the financial strain of the program through a donor fund for housing; however, this assistance is not guaranteed and varies year by year.
“It’s still a pilot program, and the fact that we were able to get a few funds to help [the students] is a miracle,” Cassidy said. “But it’s a personal investment from them…this collaboration with Cannes Classics is a unique opportunity for our students to have a full experience of covering this incredible festival.”
Junior journalism major Lyla Bhalla-Ladd projects to spend around $2,000 out of pocket for her time in France, about double what junior cinema and media studies major Kayla Cunningham paid last year when she attended. However, her year, housing was completely covered compared to Bhalla-Ladd’s $400 housing payment.
Yet, what is included is priceless for those in the film industry: accreditation to enter the Palais des Festivals and attend screenings, reserved seats at Cannes Classic, and meetings with guests and organizers. Better yet, coveted pink badges for greater access within the venue.
Students will use their experiences to write personal reviews and critiques that will be published on the Cannes Classic blog.
The program is in its third year, and Heidi Atlas, a senior cinema and media studies major, said that it is looking to continue expanding.
“We’re trying to just continue to elevate our presence,” she said. “We have some ideas cooking, [but] I’m not sure how it’s all gonna turn up, because once you’re there in France, it’s just a complete whirlwind.”
Atlas says she is “extremely grateful” to be attending the festival for the second time and encourages students to apply for next year’s program.
“It’s the perfect party-hard, work-hard lifestyle where you’re watching three movies a day from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., and then you’re out all night trying to network [and] also have fun in Europe,” she said.
Tiger George, who is working toward a Master of Fine Arts in the cinematic arts, film and television production program, said this program will be a way of reconnecting with film.
“I’d love to go to Cannes and I would love to watch films because I feel like I haven’t had time to since I’ve started my master’s degree” she said. “My Letterboxd has never been drier.”
Fitz Cain is a senior journalism major with a minor in cinematic arts and is one of the few students in the program without a major within SCA.
Cain said he realized that traditional journalism may not be for him, and has instead found his niche in the intersection of film, music and journalism.
“This program is focused on writing about the films we see and it’s beyond just attending the festival,” said Cain. “It’s about being able to translate the experience into material for [the Cannes Classic blog].”
A self-described film and music buff, Cain is drawing on his journalistic training to approach the festival from a “more everyday perspective.”
“I want my content that I write for the blog to be something that someone who has not seen the film or has not attended Cannes can read and they can get something out of,” Cain said.
As the program continues to expand, Atlas said she hopes that students will be bold and take advantage of these kinds of opportunities.
“Nobody’s gonna hand it to you on a silver platter just because you get into USC. You have to keep…fighting on,” she said. “As competitive as it can be, there are opportunities you just have to be audacious enough to try, and I think I’m trying to be more audacious.”