Hollywood Reporter May 17, 2026 • 07:15

The Indies Are Dying. Long Live the Indies - The Hollywood Reporter

By Scott Roxborough

The Indies Are Dying. Long Live the Indies - The Hollywood Reporter

The pay-one window is gone, the presale market has dried up and dealmaking at Cannes is at a standstill. But the audience for independent film hasn’t gone anywhere — it’s just waiting to be reached in new ways.

Let’s be honest: Business is slow. At this point in a typical Cannes Film Market, there would usually be at least a handful of big deals, a bidding war or two. Instead, crickets.
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