Cannes Film Festival Director Talks About Paris Attacks

After the recent terror attacks in Paris that left over 130 people dead and the country in a 'state of emergency', there has been much debate around some of the countries larger events and the security issues they bring.

The opinion of most is that 'the show must go on' and that terrorist cannot be allowed to dictate our social interactions and our day to day life. Thierry Fremaux, the director of the Cannes Film Festival is most definitely of this opinion, stating that "Culture cannot yield".

In a recent interview with newspaper 'La Nacion' in Buenos Aires, he spoke about these issues and the response of the film industry to the recent attacks.

"On the organization level, nothing will change, because Cannes had already adopted maximum security measures after the 9/11 attacks," Fremaux said. "You can't be absolutely safe with these fanatics, but we are aware of whom we're dealing with. Of course, the most frivolous parties will be canceled, and we'll try to bring the conflicts inherent to religious and ethnic integration into the programming, but my feeling is that the artistic explorations from these attacks will be reflected in the 2017 edition," he added.

In addition to new films, there are several films that were held back and not released after the Paris attacks. Unsurprising, French distributor Pretty Pictures and producer Radar Films pulled the planned release of 'Made in France', about a French Muslim journalist, who infiltrates a Jihadi cell in the heart of Paris, with a view to uncovering a plot to bring havoc to the streets of the French capital. The film, directed by Nicholas Boukhrief, was set to open on 18th November, just five days after the attacks.

Fremaux feels that this and other films will be released at a later date, perhaps in 6 months, "We will never forget these attacks, but culture cannot yield, and cannot let itself be taken by self-censorship. We won't change our way of living, but we do have to see the world in a different way." He continues to say that, "We need lots of books, essays , songs and, of course, films that describe and reflect on all that we are going through"