But an admissible film has to be distributable in a french cinema. The Semaine and Quinzaine even allow Sundance premieres. Let's see what the Quinzaine director says on the Netflix decision, because their profile and selection was superior in the last decade over the official selection. I could see them honoring Bong.
Comparing it The Last Jedi or Black Panther is not equivalent at all, because Cannes cares about artistic qualities only, and Marvel and Lucasfilm Ltd. are not respected for that.
https://www.theguardian.com/film/2005/feb/18/cannes2005.cann...
...Why aren't they?
I don't know the answer, but I suspect it isn't the same thing that's blocking Netflix.
Netflix is a distributor.
Netflix submitting films is cheating because they are using the festival not only as free advertising for their platform but it also goes against the spirit of the festival where film makers can showcase their work and easily have distributors buy their work.
No one is stopping Netflix from buying films showcased at Cannes, in fact that is highly encouraged (for anyone buying, at that) but for them to act like they are being mistreated is border line stupid. Especially coming from one of the largest tech and media companies in the world.
Major multinational corporations that act like the world is against them really rubs me the wrong way and for multinational corporations to take advantage of an extremely empowering art festival is even more sleazy.
> What is the mission of the Festival de Cannes?
> In order to achieve this level of longevity, the Festival de Cannes has remained faithful to its founding purpose: to draw attention to and raise the profile of films, with the aim of contributing towards the development of cinema, boosting the film industry worldwide and celebrating cinema at an international level. And to this day, this profession of faith constitutes the first article of the Festival regulations.
( http://www.festival-cannes.com/en/qui-sommes-nous/festival-d... )
> The spirit of the Festival de Cannes is one of friendship and universal cooperation. Its aim is to reveal and focus attention on works of quality in order to contribute to the evolution of motion picture arts and encourage the development of the film industry throughout the world.
( http://www.festival-cannes.com/en/participer/rules?id=2 )
The criteria for eligibility are that the film was produced within the previous 12 months, that it hasn't been released internationally, that it hasn't been submitted to any rival international film festivals, and that, if chosen, the film will be released in French theaters in accordance with French law. Netflix is blocked by that last one, because the French law of cinematic releases says you can't stream them. I don't see what would block Marvel films if they wanted to enter, though.
It's equivalent to asking why The Last Jedi or Black Panther aren't allowed to enter the competition.