The 78th Cannes Film Festival, running from May 13 to 24, is shaping up to be one of the most talked-about editions in recent memory. Hollywood elites and international auteurs are flocking to the French Riviera for nearly two weeks of cinematic celebration, according to DW News.
But just as the spotlight begins to shine, political drama threatens to steal the show.
On May 4, U.S. President Donald Trump stirred controversy with his declaration to “make Hollywood great again” by proposing a 100% tariff on foreign-made films. The plan also includes penalizing U.S. studios that produce films overseas, drawing the film industry into a broader global trade dispute.
Though the exact implications of Trump’s proposal remain unclear, his appointed entertainment industry envoy, actor Jon Voight, has outlined a series of suggested measures. These include tax breaks for films shot domestically, a new “cultural test” to assess whether films promote American values, and financial penalties for American-themed movies filmed outside the U.S.
Independent filmmakers are especially concerned.
“Everyone is talking about it, but nobody knows how it will impact production,” says Pia Patatian, president of Cloud9 Studios, a U.S.-based indie production house. “This kind of uncertainty makes financing and filming independent projects more difficult.”
American Films at Risk Under Proposed Tariffs
Ironically, many of the high-profile American titles premiering at Cannes this year fall squarely into the category of “foreign-made” productions targeted by the proposed tariffs.
Tom Cruise is set to dazzle Cannes audiences with Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, the eighth—and potentially final—installment in the franchise, which screens out of competition. The film was shot across multiple international locations.
Wes Anderson’s The Phoenician Scheme, a meticulously crafted tale from the director of The Grand Budapest Hotel, was filmed entirely at Studio Babelsberg in Germany.
Meanwhile, acclaimed indie director Richard Linklater brings Nouvelle Vague, a film exploring the making of Jean-Luc Godard’s 1960 classic Breathless. The twist? It was shot in Paris—and in French.
Global Film Community Watches Closely
As the world’s eyes turn to Cannes, filmmakers are left to navigate an uncertain landscape. The proposed U.S. film tariffs could redefine the rules of global film production, potentially isolating American cinema in a globally collaborative industry.
For now, the Cannes Film Festival continues as planned—glamorous, defiant, and brimming with international creativity.