If the Cannes Film Festival’s decision to premiere two Netflix films in competition was controversial when it was announced, it was all anyone could talk about once the festival actually began. It didn’t help that this year’s jury president, director Pedro Almodovar of Spain, made headlines on the first day when he was mis-translated as saying he wouldn’t award films that won’t play in cinemas with any prizes.
Just about every filmmaker and movie star attending Cannes has been asked about their opinion on the streaming versus cinema debate, though most have offered ambivalent answers, realizing that their next paycheck might be coming from Netflix or a similar service. To be sure, the discussion is far from over.
Meanwhile, after recent terrorist attacks throughout Europe, including nearby Nice, security has been tighter than ever for the more than 50,000 attendees in Cannes this year. This has caused delays at festival events for the first time in recent memory, though everyone has been very understanding. Especially this week, after bomb was set off at an Ariana Grande concert in Manchester, England killing 22 people.
Of course, we also cover the week’s top entertainment news including how TV networks are learning to take advantage of Ramadan to boost viewership, King Kong will try to tackle Broadway and Jimmy Kimmel will return as the host of next year’s Oscar telecast.

comScore Announces Official Worldwide Box Office Results for Weekend of May 21, 2017
http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/comscore-announces-official-worldwide-box-office-results-for-weekend-of-may-21-2017-300461144.html
Summer Box-Office Blues: Revenue Down 10 Percent So Far From 2016
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/summer-box-office-2017-alien-king-arthur-blues-guardians-galaxy-revenue-down-2016-1006020
Shuffle Off, Bollywood: It’s Time for Tollywood and Kollywood
http://www.economist.com/news/business/21722222-baahubali-2-conclusion-putting-film-making-southern-india-map-shuffle
Ted Sarandos Says Netflix Returning to Cannes Is ‘Less Attractive’ Under New Rule
https://variety.com/2017/film/news/returning-cannes-less-attractive-netflix-ted-sarandos-1202439569/
Cannes: ‘Okja’ Director Bong Joon-ho Dismisses French Controversy Over Netflix
https://variety.com/2017/film/asia/cannes-okja-bong-joon-ho-french-controversy-over-netflix-1202426750/
Cannes Film Festival Jury Answers The Netflix Question
https://celluloidjunkie.com/2017/05/17/cannes-film-festival-jury-answers-the-netflix-question/
Cannes Virtual Reality Review: Alejandro G. Iñárritu’s ‘Carne y Arena’
https://variety.com/2017/film/columns/carne-y-arena-review-alejandro-g-inarritu-1202438293/
“Wonderstruck” Director Todd Haynes Defends Amazon Studios at the Cannes Film Festival