In recent years, Film Festivals have created trailers that run before every film to help brand themselves and often to thank the festival sponsors. Many times, it's the festival themself that should be thanking us for sitting through them. I typically watch 5-6 movies a day, and a bad trailer can really begin to get to you at the end of a 10 day run.

I thought about this today after seeing the new trailer for the Director's Fortnight here in Cannes. It's probably no longer than a minute, and it features images (sometimes stills, sometimes clips with short bursts of dialogue) from the festival's history. Director's names such as Martin Scorsese, Jim Jarmusch, Todd Solondz wash over the images that include films such as SHE'S GOTTA HAVE IT, THE VIRGIN SUICIDES, TAXI DRIVER and OSAMA. I was particularly thrilled that an image from TARNATION which we screened last year made the cut. It's one of my favorite festival trailers. It doesn't pander to the audience the way that many recent ones tht I have seen do. Instead, it embraces the movies and reminds you of the festival's long and daring history putting the films and filmmakers first and foremost. For a few minutes watching the trailer, I was reminded of why we are all here for 10 days doing what we do. Considering how hungry and tired I was, it was just what I needed.