What qualities in a film are required for it to be a hit in the Cannes Film Festival?

I don’t think answer to this question, @mazingerz88; what makes a film a “hit” at Cannes or any film a “hit” anywhere is ephemeral. If filmmakers knew this they would make these films. No one sets out to make a purposely bad film. If there was a formula only good or great films would be made. Perhaps your best bet would be to watch all these films and figure out what they all have in common. If you can figure out what, for example, the following films have in common, then you have your answer! And if you do figure it out, you should move directly to Hollywood, right away, do not pass go! You will have the magic answer that has eluded everyone since they started making movies!

Padre Padrone
Under the Sun of Satan
All That Jazz
The Working Class Goes to Heaven
Pulp Fiction
Fahrenheit 9/11
Elephant
Dancer in the Dark
Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives

:-)

Cash cow!

@mazingerz88 The first sentence, was supposed to read: “I don’t think there really is an answer to this question, ...” The second sentence probably would have been better if I had said: “If filmmakers knew the answer to this question they would only make those kind of films; successful films, “hits.” And the third sentence, I believe, should have been: “No one sets out to purposely make a bad film” or “No one purposely sets out to make a bad film” or something like that, I don’t even know anymore, but it’s way too late to edit my answer now either way.

Better ask film critics ^^

@lillycoyote Thanks, great suggestion. Will check these films out.

@Hibernate Yes, but it’s always exciting to ask here in Fluther. Who knows, a film critic could be lurking.

Oh no no. I didn’t mean it like that. i was referring to ask film critics here from Fluther ^^

And when I see what movies end up at Cannes I just turn my head around. I believe I saw only 2 good movies at this festival [and they didn’t even won any prize].

@Hibernate Oh, ok. : )

It’s just that I have friend who plans to shoot an independent film with the ultimate goal of making it to Cannes. Lofty! Lol. And he asked me what I think.

Encourage him to finish the project. He might have talent. Doesn’t need to be perfect. Someone might see he has talent and help him to reach perfection.

@mazingerz88 Well, that is a lofty goal but stranger things have happened..

I would still advise your friend to simply make the best film he can; to try to find his own voice as a filmmaker rather than to look for some magic formula, because there simply isn’t one.

@lillycoyote Great link! Thanks so much. This helps me a lot really since I’m the one writing his storyline based on an idea I suggested to him. As for the script, don’t know if I would end up doing it. Not if he really wants to finish! Lol.

Find one’s voice. Don’t look for some magic formula. Will do : )