Film Commission under fire for Cannes ‘junket'

The International Cannes Film Festival is held on the French Riviera. File Picture / Reuters

The Film Commission has come under fire for its Cannes "junket" - which, despite only one Kiwi film competing - will be attended by 23 people and cost about $250,000, the Dominion Post reported.

The commission is picking up the tab for 10 staff and contractors, whose costs include business class flights, two weeks' accommodation and food, estimated at $100,000. It is also helping 10 film-makers to attend the French Riviera festival with $7500 each.

Industry members are outraged at the increased number of officials attending, especially as only Helena Brooks' short film Nothing Special is competing.

"Something is seriously amiss when you have more bureaucrats on the ground than practitioners and they cost nearly twice as much per person," one said.

ACT MP Deborah Coddington labelled the trip a massive junket and said the commission was abusing taxpayers' money.

The commission sent eight staff last year - its 25th anniversary - and had five films screening.

The Australian Film Commission, which has two films competing, is sending six representatives.

"We've proved internationally we can make Oscar-winning films. We don't make those by sending a whole cast of bureaucrats to a party in Cannes," Ms Coddington said.

But Film Commission deputy chief Mladen Ivancic believed the trip was not excessive.

"I can understand why people say that, but the counter-argument is it's a really competitive (film) market."

It was important New Zealand made an impact at Cannes, he said.

"We do need a lot of staff there - it's just crazy."

Officials attending include Investment New Zealand's Paul Voigt - plus London office staff - Film New Zealand's Judith McCann and Film Fund chairman David Gascoigne.

The festival starts on Wednesday.

Mr Ivancic said commission staff left yesterday and most will stay until the festival ends on May 22.

As with last year's event, a lavish party has been organised by Wellington's Matterhorn bar, featuring Wellington band Sunga. Government agencies, including the Foreign Affairs Ministry, will help cover costs.

- NZPA