The Cannes Film Festival started with a bang again this week, after a press screening of Netflix’s “Okja” was interrupted by loud booing.
Some attendees were infuriated by Netflix’s refusal to abide by the new festival rule that all movies should be shown in French cinemas. Then the film — which stars Tilda Swinton and Jake Gyllenhaal — was stopped because of a technical glitch, and restarted again without explanation, which led to further jeers.
Christophe Tardieu, director of French film authority the CNC, which underwrites the Cannes festival, told the New York Times that Netflix is “the perfect representation of American cultural imperialism . . . I deplore Netflix’s attitude in this affair, which showed total intransigence and refusing to understand and accept how the French cultural exception works.”
Meanwhile, the stars are working the red carpet. Rihanna hosted a glitzy Chopard bash on Friday with Marion Cotillard. And Queen Rania of Jordan will be attending Naomi Campbell’s Fashion for Relief benefit.