Meta Joins Cannes as a Sponsor with Gen Z Stars Reece Feldman, Enora Hope, and Zainab Jiwa
The Cannes Film Festival is entering a new era with a significant shift in policy. Following its 2018 ban on selfies on the red carpet, the prestigious festival has announced a multi-year strategic partnership with social media and technology leader Meta.
Meta, which owns platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, revealed its sponsorship ahead of the festival’s opening ceremony, following a preliminary announcement made in April.
The partnership will see Meta actively engaging with festival attendees, showcasing its platforms, artificial intelligence, and wearable technologies from its new venue, the Meta House, located in the Majestic Hotel.
The Meta House will feature a series of events highlighting Gen Z talents, including French filmmaker Enora Hope, fashion content creator Lyas, Belgian photographer Bleg, Italian creator Matteo Varini, Spanish cinephile Ivan Hachez, London-based cultural influencer Zainab Jiwa, and UK fashion figures Lola Clark and Victor Kunda. Prominent French basketball player Diamant Blazi will also be in attendance.
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In a novel twist, TikTok personality Reece Feldman will conduct interviews on the red carpet, utilizing Ray-Ban Meta glasses, marking his role as a reporter for Meta.
Additionally, Steven Soderbergh’s documentary John Lennon: The Last Interview will debut as a Special Screening. Utilizing Meta’s AI tools, the film explores visuals that accompany the abstract ideas and reflections shared by Lennon and Ono during their final radio interview.
During the Marché du Film conference, Louise Holmes, Meta’s Director of Creator and Media Partnerships, will engage in a discussion examining the evolving relationship between the creator economy and the film industry.
Meta has characterized its collaboration with Cannes as a “natural fit,” stating, “Meta is proud to be an Official Partner of the Festival de Cannes in a new multi-year strategic partnership. It’s a natural fit: for decades, Cannes has defined how we see the world through the frame—and today, our platforms are where that view is shared with the world.”
With Meta’s support, speculation arises about the potential reinstatement of selfies at the Cannes red carpet, a practice that had previously been prohibited.
