The Marché du Film – Festival de Cannes has officially announced the launch of the Village Innovation, a new venue dedicated to the intersection of filmmaking and cutting-edge technology. Debuting at the 2025 edition of the Marché, which will run from 13-24 May, this initiative will offer a unique space for professionals to explore the latest developments in generative AI, virtual production, immersive media and other disruptive technologies reshaping the film industry.

Located at the Village International Pantiero, the Village Innovation will occupy a total of 1,000 m². It will feature a 500 m² indoor pavilion designed to host talks, panels and live demonstrations, as well as a 250 m² terrace overlooking the port of Cannes, providing an ideal setting for networking events. The venue will be accessible to all accredited participants of the Cannes Film Festival and the Marché du Film.

The Village Innovation will serve as the new home for a significant part of Cannes Next, the Marché’s long-standing programme dedicated to film and media innovation. It will also incorporate events and activities from the newly established Immersive Market, a platform created for professionals working in XR and immersive storytelling (see the news). This integration ensures that the Village Innovation will be a central space where the full spectrum of technological advancement in film is explored, from AI-assisted workflows to immersive content creation.

Attendees can expect a packed schedule of events featuring collaborations with major tech companies, startups and scaleups. These will include live virtual production demonstrations, generative AI showcases and immersive experience presentations. In addition to hands-on demonstrations, the Village Innovation will highlight real-world use cases from prominent films and filmmakers, offering insights into how these tools are currently being used to transform production, post-production and narrative development.

Guillaume Esmiol, executive director of the Marché du Film, emphasised that the goal is not only to spark debate and discussion around new technologies, but also to provide practical guidance and actionable takeaways. “In addition to talks and debates on AI and technology, our ambition is also to showcase the best use cases in cinema, offer hands-on experiences through live demonstrations, and ultimately create a unique platform where film professionals can leave with a clearer understanding of these technologies, a roadmap tailored to their ambitions and the right connections to move forward,” Esmiol stated.

The announcement underscores Cannes’ growing role as a global hub for innovation in cinema. With the Village Innovation, the Marché du Film is reinforcing its commitment to future-orientated dialogue and collaboration at the highest level of the international film industry. “Nowhere else do artistic excellence and technological innovation collide with such influence as in Cannes. The Village Innovation will build on this, creating an unmatched environment for professionals to experience and interact with the future of filmmaking,” Esmiol concluded.

More information about the Village Innovation programme, including details on featured speakers, partners and participating companies, will be announced in the coming weeks.