Set apart from Cannes’ iconic Croisette, “La villa des ministres” recently hosted a gathering of independent film producers and directors to launch the inaugural MetaCannes Festival. The festival, held online between May 16 and 29, aims to highlight the possibilities of the nascent Film3 movement. Just as the evolution of cinema techniques gave rise to the French New Wave in the 1960s, Web3 has birthed the Film3 movement, according to its pioneers.
One of the goals of Film3 proponents like Jordan Bayne, filmmaker and founder of creative collective Film Squad, is to use Web3 technologies to empower minorities. Bayne feels that this technology can serve as a revolutionary means for underrepresented voices in the traditional film industry. Hollywood’s traditional model has faced criticism for putting distribution mechanisms at the forefront over the creative process. Film3 movement is tackling this issue by giving more power to creators, involving them in all stages of a movie’s life – from creation and financing to amplification and marketing.
One filmmaker who has embraced the use of Web3 to finance his film projects is Miguel Faus, a Spanish director who raised nearly $750,000 through a dedicated NFT platform for his feature film “Calladita.” This project’s financial support came from diverse communities such as CryptoPunks, Bored Apes, Nouns DAO, and Mfers. Faus launched the Calladita DAO to hold 80% of the proceeds of the movie, enabling holders to actively manage its treasury and support future projects.
However, the ongoing crypto bear market may hinder the progress of Film3 and dampen enthusiasm for using Web3 technologies like NFTs to promote creative industry. Phil McKenzie, co-founder of streaming platform MyCo and co-organizer of the MetaCannes Festival, recognizes the necessity to marry the current Web2 world with Web3’s promise and opportunity.
While there are undoubtedly challenges for Film3 to overcome, the movement has already gained support from some big names in the industry. Roman Coppola, Co-Writer of Wes Anderson’s “Asteroid City,” co-founded the Web3 film fund, Decentralized Pictures, and cites the importance of community backing in successful cinematic movements like the French New Wave and the Italian neorealist movement. With a growing number of creators embracing the Web3-based Film3 movement, it may indeed be set to change the way we think about and experience cinema.
Source: Decrypt
