Hey everyone!
My name is Brannon Hancock, and I'm raising funds to help me attend an internship with the American Pavilion at the Cannes Film Festival.
Let me tell you the 6 W's: Who, What, When, Where, Why, and Ho(w).
Who:
Brannon Hancock - That's me! I'm a student at Columbia College Chicago, and I'm pursuing a BFA in Film and Television, with a concentration in directing. On top of being a student, I am also a veteran, having served for almost six years in the Air Force before being medically retired. I've been a lifelong student of the performing arts. I played saxophone in high school, while also singing in show choir (please don't ask to see my sequined vest), and performing in various categories in speech and drama competitions as well as a couple stage plays. Before then I was a child who barely had a thought in his head. Before then I was born. And before then was like, a LOT of other stuff.
What:
American Pavilion - Here it is, straight from the horse's mouth:
"Celebrating over 35 years bringing professionals and emerging filmmakers together, The American Pavilion is the center of activity for the American film community at the Cannes International Film Festival.
Since its debut at the 1989 Cannes Film Festival, The Pavilion has served as a hospitality and communications hub for the thousands of Americans attending the Cannes Film Festival and Marché, providing an impressive array of facilities and services, including membership for the international film community, provocative and insightful programming, the Emerging Filmmaker Showcase, immersive student programs, and more."
Did you catch that one on the end? "Immersive student programs." That's what I'll be participating in!
Cannes Film Festival - You guys know Cannes. Of course you do. Some of the best films you can see have premiered at Cannes, like Good Time (2017), Taxi Driver (1976), and Shrek (2001).
When:
The internship will be 10th-24th of May 2026, but I would be flying to Nice on the 9th to arrive on the 10th and fly back on the 24th to get back to the states on the 25th.
Where:
The Cannes Film Festival takes place in Cannes, France.
Why:
There are a few different reasons. The number one reason is that Cannes is the most renown film festival on the planet. Filmmakers like Wes Anderson, Ari Aster, Ryan Coogler, and Kristen Stewart screen their films at Cannes. You've seen their films, and you know their storytelling prowess. Cannes is representative of both the business and artistry of filmmaking.
I would be lying to you if I didn't say that I want to go to advance my career. Filmmaking is, inherently, a social endeavor. The phrase "it's not what you know, it's who you know" has never rang more true. I want to meet people, I want to make connections, and I want to set myself up for opportunities beyond Cannes and beyond school. The opportunities that present themselves at Cannes are unlike any other opportunities I could dream of coming across in my day to day. The concentration of filmmakers at Cannes can only be found at festivals like Cannes.
To be frank, I have never had an opportunity like this in my life. I can't quite put into words how grateful I am to The American Pavilion to even have a shot at this. It's exciting and humbling. More than anything, though, I'm nervous. I want to be a great director, and I think I have the ability to be great. This is the first major step outside of school towards that goal. The longer this journey goes, the more I've been thinking to myself "Why not me? I'm just as worthy of this opportunity as anyone else." That's not a thought I would have had even just a few years ago. But here I am now, so now it's time to prove that I can do this.
How:
With your help, of course!
If you made it to the end, thank you for reading. Please consider donating, but even a share would mean the world to me.
-Brannon :)