Behind the scenes
Filming an event in Cannes: from the brief to a teaser delivered before 9am
A congress lasts a few days; its footage has to live all year. Here, step by step, is the method I use to film events on the French Riviera.
An event can’t be replayed. The keynote, the toast, the moment the terrace fills up at sunset: you get one take, sometimes two. That’s what makes event video both stressful and exciting. After several seasons of congresses in Cannes — Cannes Lions, MIPCOM, Datacloud Global Congress, the Cannes Yachting Festival — I ended up formalising a four-step method. Here it is, no secrets.
Before: the brief makes the film
Everything happens upstream. A great event film starts with a call, not a camera. Before the day, we agree on:
- The goals: reporting to headquarters, recruiting exhibitors for next year, feeding LinkedIn during the event?
- The shot list: speakers you can’t miss, key moments, logos and partners to show.
- The run sheet: the exact timing of each moment, to be in the right place at the right time.
- Accreditations: at the Palais des Festivals or on a private beach, no badge, no footage.
- Scouting when the venue requires it: a terrace at 7pm looks nothing like it does at noon.
The earlier this work starts, the better the film. For the big weeks in Cannes, I explain the right timing in the calendar of events in Cannes.
On the day: discreet, but everywhere
A good event videographer becomes invisible. Guests are there for the event, not the camera. I mostly shoot on gimbal and steadicam, which lets me follow a crowd without tripods or rails, and move from a talk to a cocktail in seconds.
For interviews and panels, audio comes first: lavalier mics, a quiet spot when possible, and a second camera on request. A beautiful image with unusable sound will never get published.
Overnight: the next-morning teaser
This is what makes Cannes special. While a show runs for several days, what matters is publishing during the event. In the evening I offload, edit and grade a 30 to 60-second teaser, delivered in 16:9 and vertical 9:16 before 9am, so your team can post it as the doors reopen.
An agency I worked with at Cannes Lions put it better than I can: across four simultaneous events, shoot every day, edit overnight, deliver every evening. It’s demanding, but it’s the difference between a presence people hear about and a presence people see.
After: the aftermovie and the cut-downs
Once the event is over comes the film that lasts: the aftermovie, 1 to 3 minutes, delivered within ten days, graded and mixed, with two rounds of revisions included. It’s the film that reports back to headquarters and sells next year’s edition.
Around it, I deliver everything your channels need:
- vertical versions in 9:16 for Reels, TikTok and Stories;
- LinkedIn formats in 1:1 and 4:5, subtitled;
- subtitles in English and French;
- licensed music, cleared for your channels.
Vertical isn’t a last-minute crop: it’s planned on set. I explain why in vertical video starts on set.
Usage rights, clear from the start
The question always comes up at publishing time, so it’s best settled first. A non-exclusive licence for your website, social channels and presentations is included. Exclusivity and raw footage can be discussed and are itemised in the quote. Participants’ image rights are the organiser’s responsibility: plan for them in your registration terms.
Why work with a local videographer
International agencies come to Cannes one week a year. A videographer who lives here already knows the Palais, the beaches, the rooftops and the harbours, and where to stand at what time. There are no flights, no trade-show-week hotel rates, no gear in the hold. And the brief can happen in English with your team, in French with venues, security and suppliers.
Every package is detailed in my events brochure, and you can see the results in the selected work.
FAQ
How long does it take to receive an event aftermovie?
A 1 to 3-minute aftermovie is delivered within ten days, graded and mixed, with two rounds of revisions included. A short teaser can be delivered the next morning.
Which video formats should I plan for social media?
Vertical 9:16 for Instagram, TikTok and Stories, plus subtitled 1:1 or 4:5 versions for LinkedIn, alongside the main 16:9 film.
Do you work with international agencies?
Yes. I regularly work with international agencies during the big Cannes congresses, with an English brief and on-site coordination in French.
