Regarding Scott Feinberg‘s 7.5.21 THR story, “Cannes: Which Fest Films Could Become Oscar Contenders?“, and the opening paragraph in particular:
Wells to Feinberg: “You can’t just mention Palme d’Or winners Marty and Parasite in your opening paragraph and ignore No Country for Old Men, which launched in Cannes in May ‘07 and went on to win the Best Picture Oscar the following February or March. To hell with the Palme d’Or distinction — Cannes launched NCFOM and that’s what counts.
“In the 14 years since have award-season publicists and marketing strategists decided that Cannes is generally too risky (contrarian critics) and too early in the season, and that it isn’t worth the trouble and expense? Has a consensus emerged that award season launches at the major fall festivals make MUCH more sense? Yes.
“But you can’t ignore the No Country precedent. That was a very big deal at the time.”