In this edition of Screen’s Cannes Close-Up interview series, UK producer and executive Daniel Battsek recalls his favourite Cannes deals, and how he used to pride himself for getting into parties without an invite.
UK-born, New York-based Battsek is wearing “two hats” at Cannes year; as the newly appointed president of Film At Lincoln Center and also as chairman of Film London, representing the interests of British cinema.
Battsek, formerly chairman of Film4 after senior roles at Cohen Media Group, National Geographic, Miramax, Disney and Palace Pictures, is a true Cannes veteran.
On his favourite deals on the Croisette, he “allowed my heart to rule my head which every now and then turns out to be a good thing”.
One was Julian Schnabel’s The Diving Bell And The Butterfly. “I completely fell in love with it [and] spent the rest of that Cannes chasing after Julian Schnabel who is a hard man to chase. We eventually did the deal for the film.”
In the interview, Battsek also talks about his favourite Cannes celebrity encounter (it wasn’t someone from the world of film), and why he’s now not tempted by the Petit Majestic on his walk back to the hotel.
Watch the full interview above.
Cannes Close-Up sees leading figures from the international film industry give their inside insight into their careers and navigating the Cannes Film Festival.
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