DAY EIGHT

The college where I am staying provided a simple breakfast of cereal, fruit, juice and tea. I caught the local bus to the Palais (the main venue of the festival and market). I went around and said hello to sales agents that I already knew and checked out their new movies until 11am when I had an appointment to close a deal for an action film from a Japanese company.

I stopped at a few new booths and watched trailers of perspective movies for Cambodia. By 1pm I was hungry and stopped by to see if some friends might want to join me, but they had already eaten. I decided to stay in the Palais and eat a cheese sandwich from the cafe. This gave me some time to look over the daily Variety news magazine.

A few booths were located down La Croisette at the Carlton, so I walked along the sunlit street past beaches full of bathers and yachts moored in the sea. The Carlton was buzzing with activity due to the opening night premiere parties planned for the evening around Disney's new 3-D movie, Up.

I met with a couple of distributors and long-time friend and filmmaker, Uwe Boll. On the same floor were the festival offices of two major studios, so I went in to introduce myself. I meet with one again on the 15th.

Then it was time for a little break, so I went out on the Carlton terrace and ordered a refreshing drink. With sunglasses hiding my eyes, I watched other people going up and down La Croisette - photographers, fashionistas, golden-aged couples and young parents pushing high-tech strollers.

When break-time was over I went back to the Palais for another round with the distributors. At 6pm I watched a screening of a potential movie and then took the bus back to the college to start watching screener DVDs. Tomorrow I do it all over again.

Mariam Arthur
http://www.kmyfilms.com/
http://www.filmcambodia.org/