The first of Screen’s Cannes Close-Up interviews for 2025 hears from UK producers Elizabeth Karlsen and Stephen Woolley, co-founders of Number 9 Films, about their favourite Cannes memories.

These include signing a contract on a napkin, the thrilling ovation for Todd Haynes’ Carol, and seeing “Monsieur Bob” (Hoskins) rushing back on a private plane to pick up the best actor award for Neil Jordan’s Mona Lisa.

Karlsen and Woolley are in town this year as the co-producers of Kei Ishikawa’s A Pale View Of Hills, an adaptation of Nobel prize-winning author Kazuo Ishiguro’s first novel that is screening in Un Certain Regard.

The duo also give advice on how to get the most out of Cannes, from attending the early-bird screenings to, above all, never losing sight that it is all about watching films and being able to talk about films.

Watch the full interview above.

Cannes Close-Up sees leading figures from the international film industry give insights  into their  careers and navigating the Cannes Film Festival, with interviews set to run throughout the event.

Topics