Musicbed Goes to Cannes

Cannes is one of the most prestigious film festivals in the world, and this year Musicbed was invited to host a workshop on music licensing for the increasingly popular Short Film Corner. The trip ended up being an unexpectedly rewarding adventure for the four of us who went. It confirmed just how much we love films and how much we love the filmmaking community. Here are a few highlights.



Stopping Off in London and Paris

On the way to Cannes, we decided to take a brief detour to visit our friend Philip Bloom in London and our exclusive artist (and friend) Liza Anne in Paris. We really wanted to maximize our Europe travels and get some face-to-face time with our pals who have contributed so much to Musicbed. The scenic pit-stops weren't bad, either. Don’t worry — we brought along all of our film gear (seriously, all of it), so you’ll be seeing a few exclusive videos with Philip and Liza very soon.



There was a lot of genuine interest in the marriage of music and film: both the legality and the artistry.

Hosting Workshops

We were so impressed by the learning/sharing environment created by the (beautifully hospitable and humorous) Cannes Short Film staff. Our team was so excited to show the more educational side of Musicbed with tons of filmmakers over the course of a couple presentations followed by some meaty Q&A sessions.

After speaking to crowds of filmmakers about how to find the perfect score for their film, the art of working with composers, and breaking down the legalities of the licensing process -- we felt more grateful than ever to work at the intersection of film and music where Musicbed exists.

Our expectations for the workshops were definitely exceeded, but best of all there was a lot of genuine interest in the marriage of music and film: both the legality and the artistry. We geek out on stuff like that all day long, so it was amazing to be in a room full of people who share our passion.

Late-Night Dinners

As great as it was being around amazing Cannes’ filmmakers all day, it was also great to unwind as a team over some late-night dinners. We usually ate outdoors around 10 p.m. at little restaurants wherever we happened to be in the city each night. We drank wine and ate amazing food and tried to process everything we were seeing, hearing and learning. Some of our best memories from the trip were made around the table. 

We realized that creating films — creating art — is a lifelong endeavor. It takes decades to master it.

Walking the Red Carpet

On one of our last nights in Cannes, we were invited to attend the red carpet premiere of a film called Coming Home. It was one of those larger-than-life, once-in-a-lifetime moments. We walked the red carpet behind Ryan Gosling and ahead of Adrien Brody. But even more impactful than the spectacle outside the theater was experiencing an amazing piece of art while sitting in the same room with the people who created it.  

When the film was over, there was a 10-minute standing ovation for the cast and crew, and that’s when we noticed the director, Zhang Yimou, is 60+ years old. The four of us had this moment when we realized that creating films — creating art — is a lifelong endeavor. It takes decades to master it. And as much as we all want to be further along in our careers, in our crafts, it was a good reminder that it’s okay to slow down, take a deep breath and enjoy the process along the way.

We were honored to play a part in this year’s Cannes Film Festival. The week was exhilarating, inspirational and surreal all at the same time. I don’t think any of us will ever forget it.