Occupy Cannes

About the film

"Occupy Cannes" follows legendary director Lloyd Kaufman (creator of "The Toxic Avenger") and The Troma Team on what could be their last trip to the Cannes Film Festival. It dives into the underbelly of this glamorous event, revealing a vibrant subculture and exploring the intersection of artistic expression, grassroots activism, and the mainstream film industry.

Love them or loathe them, Lloyd Kaufman and the Troma Team have been a staple of the Cannes Film Festival since 1971. Renowned for using guerrilla tactics and provocative artistry to sell films, Troma's audacious performances spark both controversy and curiosity, drawing the scrutiny of law enforcement.

Presented through the lens of Kaufman's daughters, who possess unparalleled access to Troma and the freedom to pose questions that no other filmmaker can, "Occupy Cannes" asks: does Kaufman's defiant stance attract coveted buyers, or ostracize Troma from the industry's inner circle?

"Give art back to the people" Kaufman implores through a bullhorn on the Festival's Croisette outside the historic Carlton hotel. (Before him, the Troma Team unleashes green slime from their mouths and writhes on the red carpet in a renowned "Troma Melt Down." This provocative act is meant to symbolize the independent filmmakers' struggle to be heard amidst the clamor of Hollywood studios, depicted as noisy zombies that crowd out the independents and infect the general public with their uniformity.)

Kaufman is passionate about building a fair, free and open film world. From lobbying in Washington for Net Neutrality, to launching TromaDance, a free festival now in its 20th year, he has fought tirelessly to elevate voices of independent filmmakers. Trey Parker, Matt Stone and James Gunn, are Troma proteges you've heard of, and there are hundreds of other young artists who have found a voice with the company.

Known for a universe of superheroes with a global cult following, Troma Entertainment may be the last surviving truly independent film studio. But, like hundreds of thousands of species on this planet, Troma is at risk of going extinct.

After 40 years of selling films at Cannes, this could be their final trip.