The Cannes Film Festival is almost here, Creative Army!

In just a few short weeks, the global film community will once again gather on the Croisette for one of the most important, electric, and opportunity-filled events in our industry, the Cannes Film Festival and the Marché du Film.

And this year marks something special for us at Stage 32. We are proud to be returning for our 12th year as the official Education Partner of the Cannes Marché du Film.

For over a decade, we have worked side by side with the Marché to help educate, connect, and empower creatives from all over the world. From exclusive panels and workshops to partnerships, events, and on-the-ground activations, Stage 32 continues to bring our global community directly into the heart of the festival and market.

And as always, we are showing up in a big way.

To help you prepare, we recently hosted our Navigating Cannes webinar with Marché du Film Executive Director Guillaume Esmiol, giving you a direct, inside look at how to approach the festival strategically, how the market works, and how to make the most of your time on the ground.

If you missed it live, or want to revisit it before you land in France, you can now watch it for FREE on-demand by clicking here!

Consider this your pre-game strategy session.

Because Cannes is not just a festival, it is a marketplace, a networking hub, and for many of you, a potential turning point.

If you are attending Cannes:

In the comments section below, let's start the official ROLL CALL. We (and the producers and executives we work with, who will be at the fest) are specifically interested in knowing:

• What dates will you be attending?
• What brings you to Cannes?
• What projects do you have screening or are you bringing to the market?
• Are you planning on attending any workshops or events? If so, which ones?
• What are your goals during the Cannes Film Festival?
• Do you have a film screening at the festival? Let us know in the comments section below!

If you are NOT attending Cannes (and, if you WILL be attending):

Stop what you're doing right now, pick up your phone, and go follow @rbwalksintoabar and @stage32 on Instagram and @rbwalksintoabar and @stage32 on X. We will be LIVE storying and posting during the entire festival. We're thrilled to bring you to the film industry's largest festival in the world!

We look forward to hearing from you!

RB

THE OFFICIAL STAGE 32 SCHEDULE

And, in true Stage 32 style, we’ll be taking the Croisette by storm with an action-packed lineup of events and partnerships at the festival, including:

Stage 32 + the Cannes Film Festival Marche du Film Official Education Partnership

For a decade, Stage 32 has been a proud education partner of the Marché du Film. Anyone who purchases a Marche du Film badge will get a free Stage 32 webinar with their badge purchase.

If you are planning on attending Cannes, be sure to watch our exclusive webinar with Guillaume Esmiol, the Executive Director of the Cannes Film Festival Marche du Film + Stage 32’s Managing Director, Amanda Toney, here - it is FREE to watch.

Thursday, May 14th- 4:00 pm - Palais Main Stage

Panel: Building Collective Power:

How women across the Industry shape influence in Film | Presented by Yes She Cannes in partnership with E2AC

Bringing together women working across the film industry, this panel explores how each is building their own pathway to influence, from education and community to storytelling and industry leadership, offering real insight into shaping your own path in film.

Moderator: Faith Elizabeth, CEO & Founder of Yes She Cannes, Director/Producer of Faithful Films

Panelists:

• Amanda Toney, Managing Director, Stage 32
• Sara Hamilton, Head of Global Partnerships & Impact Strategy, E2ACxGreenlit
• Guneet Monga Kapoor, CEO & Producer, Sikhya Entertainment, Founder of WIF India
• Maria Hundsnes-Shevtsova, Co-Founder and VP, DISAUTHORITY

Partnered with: Entertainment to Affect Change

Entertainment 2 Affect Change (E2AC) is a non-profit organisation producing impact-driven film, digital, and live content. It collaborates with creators and partners to develop stories that entertain, engage, educate, and inspire, supporting underserved health and social communities.

To RSVP: Click Here!

Saturday, May 16th- 3:00 pm - FilmUSA Pavilion

Panel: The Industry Reset - How Independent Films are Getting Made in 2026

The market has shifted and the rules have changed. Cannes Palme d’or nominated producers, filmmakers, and talent break down what’s actually selling, how films are getting financed, and what’s moving the needle globally. Get real insight into today’s film economy - and what it takes to get projects made now.

Moderator: Amanda Toney, Stage 32

Panelists:

• Daniel Bekerman, Oscar and Cannes Palme d’or Nominated Producer
• Tiffany Boyle, Cannes Palme d’or Nominated Producer and President, Packaging & Sales, Ramo Law
• Richard “RB” Botto, Producer, Screenwriter, CEO, Stage 32
• Tonia Sotiropoulou, Actor (SKYFALL:007), Producer

To RSVP: Click Here!

Sunday, May 17th- 6:00 pm - RB & Gary’s Brown Sugar - Cannes Takeover

Event: Annual Stage 32 Networking Meetup!

Those who have attended Cannes over the last decade know that the Stage 32 Cannes Meetup has become one of the most anticipated and talked-about gatherings of the entire festival. Last year, we had almost 1,000 people attend! It’s where real connections are made, collaborations begin, and the global creative community comes together in a meaningful way.

Our meetup has gotten so big that we needed our own space, so this year, our crazy fearless leader RB has taken over an ENTIRE BAR in Cannes, and we’re excited to bring that experience to you!

For 2026, the Official Stage 32 Cannes Meetup will be held as part of our Stage 32 Takeover Bar Event:

We’ll be taking over the iconic Brown Sugar Gastro Pub from Saturday to Tuesday and it will be called RB and Gary’s Brown Sugar for the full weekend. Located in the heart of Cannes on the Carré d’Or, Brown Sugar is one of the festival’s most well-known and beloved gathering spots, making it the perfect setting to combine the magic of Cannes with the magic of Stage 32.

We couldn’t be prouder to partner with Brown Sugar's owner, Gary, to create an unforgettable experience for our community. Make sure to follow Gary on X here, as he has some really cool Cannes related stuff he’ll be sharing!

Join Stage 32 Founder & CEO Richard “RB” Botto, Managing Director Amanda Toney, and Head of Community Ashley Smith, along with creatives and industry professionals from around the world, for an evening of connection, conversation, and opportunity.

We hope you’ll join us for an unforgettable night in Cannes!

Time: 6:00pm – 8:00pm local Cannes time

Location: RB & Gary’s Brown Sugar

Le Carré d’Or

17 Rue des Frères Pradignac

06400 Cannes, France

Open to festival badge holders and non-badge holders alike, as this location is outside of the restricted attendees-only space.

To RSVP: Click Here!

Monday, May 18th, 12:00 pm- 10:00 pm - La Muse Restaurant

Event: The Impact Lounge!

For 2026, Stage 32 is proud to partner with the Impact Lounge who will host an all-day activation during the festival on Monday, May 18th. This activation will take place on the waterfront, just 5 minutes from the famous La Pizza at La Muse restaurant and patio. With room for 75 inside for panels and an equal number outside on the patio, we stay true to our roots of a gathering place for content, conversation, and connection.

The Impact Lounge is a networking and collaboration hub that convenes filmmakers, producers, creators, and global brands alongside leaders in corporate social responsibility, philanthropy, and social impact. Built to harness the power of film and culture to drive positive change, The Impact Lounge curates high-impact conversations, partnerships, and programming that elevate purpose-driven storytelling and help move projects from idea to audience.

About Our Partners:

Official Education Partner of Cannes Marché du Film!

The Cannes Film Festival can be overwhelming when you plan to attend for the first time. Over 15,000 film industry professionals head to Cannes each year to present and discover almost 4,000 films and projects in development at 31 screening venues.

Fueled by this success, the Marché has expanded with the opening of the Riviera and Lérins exhibition halls, forming a hub around the world-famous Palais des Festivals and the Village International, the number one venue for promoting films from all over the world. As a leading global film industry organization, the Marché du Film takes a rigorous approach in adapting to the expectations of industry professionals worldwide and to emerging economic, technological, and creative film trends.

FilmUSA, Alliance of USA Film Commissioners

Our mission is to maximize the economic benefits of the film industry in the USA by streamlining connections and information. Film USA is a national, non-profit trade organization of state and regional film commissions from across the USA under one umbrella to enhance the global competitiveness of the US film and TV industry, expand industry access, support global film partnerships, and promote domestic production. Film USA utilizes our member network of film commissioners to foster new business relationships, market our industry globally, and expand the worldwide presence of the US film and TV industry, thereby creating US employment and economic growth.

WOFF: World of Film International Festival

WOFF is Glasgow's annual independent film event held in October and currently in its ninth edition. Our main focus is to promote independent international cinema and new talent from Scotland, the UK, and beyond. Our aim is to bring local and Scottish audiences together with filmmakers, producers, artists, and cinema enthusiasts from all around the world, in an attempt to discover new talent, showcase their work, and generate ideas for future projects. WoFF is a non-profit organisation bringing audiences a step closer to international independent cinema and giving voice to young artists. In 2024, the WoFF aspires to bring more audiences, filmmakers, and industry professionals together, creating a platform to exchange ideas, showcase their work, and most importantly talk on film and new trends in the industry, women filmmakers of today, and independent film production in Europe, the, US and beyond.

www.woffglasgow.com / Submissions: https://filmfreeway.com/WorldofFilmFestivalGlasgow

Official Education Partner of Yes She Cannes!

Yes She Cannes is an organisation supporting women attending the Cannes Film Festival, delivering curated panels, events, and networking opportunities. Through its international She Squad community, it brings together creatives and industry professionals to foster connection, collaboration, and visibility during the festival.

Other great Cannes events hosted by Yes She Cannes this year:

Women in Genre: Building Global Alliances Panel at The Fantastic Pavilion

Yes She Cannes continues its collaboration with the Fantastic Pavilion, an integral and increasingly influential hub within the Marché du Film dedicated to advancing genre cinema through its programming, industry connections, and growing international presence.

Bringing together filmmakers, festivals, and industry voices from across the world, the Fantastic Pavilion is helping to shape the genre landscape at Cannes, creating space for collaboration, visibility, and industry connection.

Alongside this, Yes She Cannes is partnering with female-led genre festivals including the US-based Heidi Honeycutt from Etheria Film Festival, a platform dedicated to showcasing women working in genre film, and Sapna Bhavnani from India’s Wench Film Festival, which has established itself as a pioneering platform for horror and genre cinema in the region- expanding its international network and reflecting a growing alignment across women shaping the genre space globally.

Together, these partnerships reflect a growing global network supporting women in genre filmmaking- an area where access and visibility have historically been limited, but are now expanding through international collaboration.

The conversation explores how filmmakers are building creative power within the genre space- through the stories they tell, the paths they’ve taken, and the people and partnerships that have supported them along the way.

Moderator: Faith Elizabeth

Panelists include:

• Bloodstream TBC
• Joanne Mitchell (Director of Broken Bird, released April 2026)
• Kristina Klebe (Actress and Director of Noxturne)
• Lee Lawson (Actress and Director of MEP, won SWSX Jury award and nominated for 2026 Canadian Screen Award for Best Performance in a Live Action Short Drama for her role in Thin Walls)
• Sapna Bhavnani (celebrity hairstylist, director, and founder of the Wench Film Festival)

A cocktail reception at the Fantastic Pavilion will extend the conversation beyond the panel, creating space for connection between invited filmmakers, partners, and industry guests.

The Terrace: A Private Members Space for Building Practical Power

For 2026, Yes She Cannes introduces its private members’ terrace- an intentional space designed to bring members together through curated workshops, focused conversations, and a shared approach to navigating the festival.

The terrace programme begins with a Welcome Workshop, hosted in partnership with the Wellness Film Festival, where Dr Clare Anyiam-Osigwe B.E.M leads a clarity-focused reset to help members arrive and approach the festival with intention. From there, the programme unfolds through a series of Terrace Talks- small, roundtable-style conversations designed to offer direct access to industry insight across key areas of the business. These sessions are shaped in collaboration with partners working across the industry, creating space for open discussion around product placement, finance, PR, sales, and legal navigation.

Terrace Talks (4-part series)

Legal & Industry Navigation: With Atlanta Webster of Female Founder Legal, sharing practical guidance on contracts, rights, and decision-making across the UK industry.

Product Placement & Brand Integration: With Julia Savage (Managing Partner at Entertainment Marketing Group) and Deborah Hadfield (Queen Bee Films) sharing insight into brand partnerships and on-screen integration.

Finance & PR: With Luna Zhang, investor and executive producer, and Patricia Chica (Chicart PR), bringing together funding and visibility to explore how projects are positioned, financed, and brought to market.

Expand HIT - Empowering Workshop: Hosted by Daniela Scalia (multi-sport athlete, filmmaker, and Expand HIT coach) and Luca Tramontin ( international rugby player, lecturer, and expert in communication and sports psychology), with live demonstrations by Actress Cathy Coneff, using techniques from sports psychology and communication to build confidence, presence, and control under pressure at Cannes.

Member Moments

Members’ Cocktail - Hosted in collaboration with Film USA at the USA Pavilion

She Spotlight Interviews- Led by Foz O’Dowd, Stella Moss, and Coco’s Cannes, highlighting the work and journeys of women within the She Squad community.

“A Coffee With” Series in partnership with Alida Pantone (London Rolling Film Festival), - Featuring conversations with voices including Amanda Toney (Stage 32), and Sara Hamilton (E2AC) exploring pathways, experiences, and perspectives across the industry.

The Member’s Club!

The Members Club is back in Cannes on La Croisette for 2026 at La Plage du Festival. We open daily from 9am - 5pm from May 12th - May 22nd, with the last entry at 4:30 pm each day. Each membership is individual and allows you access with two guests at any one time, with no reserving of tables, but plenty of space.

The restaurant is open from 9am every day, with a dedicated team on hand to serve from breakfast to tiffin, offering a varied menu including Vegan options and catering to every dietary requirement, so you can relax and know we have you covered.

REGISTRATION FOR MEMBERSHIP IS OPEN NOW

Secure yours early and become a part of

THE MEMBERS CLUB 2026

Regular Fee: March 1st - May 1st

Late Rate: as of 2nd May (if available)

Apply for Members Club Consideration here!

The Impact Lounge!

The Impact Lounge stands out by combining over two decades of event production expertise with a heartfelt commitment to social impact and storytelling. Our strategic approach ensures that every convening is not just an event, but a catalyst for change. Whether you're a filmmaker seeking funding and distribution, a social good funder exploring new models, or a creative looking to connect and collaborate, The Impact Lounge is your home for inspiration and action. The Impact Lounge was founded on the belief that convenings can change the world. When the right people come together at the right moment to discuss and share ideas, synergy happens, and mountains move. Leveraging the expertise of Caspian Agency, a leader in creating strategic convenings for over 20 years.

Official Education Partner of the Association of Film Commissioners International!

Established in 1975, the Association of Film Commissioners International (AFCI) stands as the only global non-profit professional organization (501c3) representing city, state, regional, provincial, and national film commission members across six continents. AFCI champions advocacy, connectivity, and education, empowering film commissions and industry stakeholders to drive economic growth, build robust infrastructure, and advance professional development. Additionally, AFCI provides essential guidance to emerging regions that are interested in establishing a film commission aligned with the recognized standards for a film office.

Let's hear your thoughts in the comments below!

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