Trump's trade war looms over Cannes film festival

Monday 12 May 2025 - 10:03

By: Zahouani Ilham

Trump's trade war looms over Cannes film festival

Donald Trump's threat to impose tariffs on foreign-made films has sparked tensions between the European and American film industries, overshadowing the Cannes Film Festival this week. The US president's proposed 100-percent tariffs on movies "produced in foreign lands" have raised concerns in the film sector, already struggling with competition from streaming platforms.

Though many believe the tariff proposal is impractical, it has the potential to destabilize the globalized film industry, which relies on open trade. Eric Marti from Comscore, a US-based media measurement agency, emphasized that the tariff issue would be a major topic of conversation in Cannes. Another concern is the stance of Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos, who recently described cinema-going as an "outmoded idea" due to the decline in audience numbers post-COVID.

This year's Cannes festival will see industry professionals grappling with Trump's tariffs and the opinions of Hollywood advisors such as Jon Voight, Mel Gibson, and Sylvester Stallone. The Trump administration's nationalist agenda also targets European regulations that protect local cinema, including laws requiring American streaming platforms to invest in French-language films or series.

In response, French filmmakers, including Cannes-winning director Jacques Audiard, defended the cultural importance of European and American cinema cooperation. French Culture Minister Rachida Dati vowed to protect French films from foreign hostility.

While Cannes traditionally supports independent films, it also features major Hollywood productions to attract larger audiences. This year, Tom Cruise returns for the premiere of the final "Mission: Impossible" film. However, Trump critics, such as Robert De Niro and Spike Lee, will also be in attendance, continuing their outspoken opposition to the US president.