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Extremely proud to share feature in Forbes on what we’ve accomplished and what we’re currently accomplishing with Stage 32 Education and Stage 32 Certification. About 10 years ago, Forbes did a feature on us calling us “Facebook meets LinkedIn for Film and Television Creatives and Professionals Worldwide” Today, they’re calling us “The Future of Film School and Career Education” No gatekeepers. No geographic barriers. No six-figure tuition. No four year waiting time. Just practical, actionable, world class education designed to get people to work and keep them working. The future of film and television education isn’t coming from traditional institutions. It’s being built by us, for all of us. This is world-class education taught by the brightest, most accomplished minds in the business, certifications that actually matter to film & TV productions, and a global network of 1.3M creatives turning ambition into real careers - from production accounting to location management, line producing to post supervision and much, much more. In over 2 short years, over 60 film commissions all over the world from the U.S. to Europe to Australia to South America to Saudi Arabia and organizations such as Bloomberg TV have hired Stage 32 Certification and we’re only getting started. Grateful to every member who believed in and supported this mission from day one. This one’s for you. And, special thanks to Derek Newton at Forbes, you’re one hell of a gent for the recognition. Much love ❤️

Thinking about attending Cannes this year, or even someday? Let’s be honest, Cannes can feel overwhelming. Thousands of industry professionals. Thousands of projects. Endless meetings, screenings, and conversations happening all at once. And if you show up without a plan, it’s very easy to leave without the traction you were hoping for. That’s exactly why this matters. This week, you have the opportunity to hear directly from Guillaume Esmiol, Executive Director of the Marché du Film at the Cannes Film Festival, moderated by Stage 32 Managing Director Amanda Toney, completely for FREE. Not secondhand advice. Not guesswork. Real insight from the person helping run the market itself. You’ll learn how to actually navigate Cannes in a way that works for you. How to use your badge strategically. How to build a schedule that creates opportunity. How to approach networking with intention instead of overwhelm. And most importantly, how to position yourself and your project so you’re not just attending, you’re making real progress. Whether you’re a writer, director, producer, actor, or creative professional, this is how you walk into Cannes with clarity, confidence, and a plan. If Cannes is on your radar, this is where you start. What would you want to walk away with from your first Cannes experience? Tell us in the comments below! Click the link in our bio to secure your spot for FREE now!

Today, RB & Gary’s Brown Sugar officially kicks off! From today through Tuesday, one of Cannes’ most beloved gathering spots becomes the home base for the Stage 32 community. For years, RB Botto has been one of the most recognizable and welcoming presences at Cannes, not just as the CEO of Stage 32, but as a producer, screenwriter, and filmmaker who understands firsthand how important these spaces and conversations can become. This year, together with Gary from @Brown_Sugar_Cannes , we’re creating a true gathering place for creatives throughout the biggest weekend of the festival. And tomorrow night, we’re taking it even further with the official Stage 32 Cannes Meetup. 📍 RB & Gary’s Brown Sugar 🕕 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM 📍 Le Carré d’Or, Cannes (RSVP through the Roll Call link in our bio!) No badge required. No gatekeeping. Just creatives from around the world coming together to connect. If you’re in Cannes this week, make this part of your plan. Who are you hoping to meet or reconnect with during the festival this year? #Stage32 #Cannes2026 #MarcheDuFilm #FestivalDeCannes #Networking #Filmmaking #Screenwriting #Producing

Global production is expanding, and so is the need for skilled local crews 🌍🎬 At this year’s @marchedufilm in Cannes, AFCI and @stage32 are launching a new global workforce training initiative designed to help film commissions strengthen local production ecosystems and address below-the-line crew shortages across emerging and competitive markets. The partnership will focus on training, certification, and leadership development programs that support sustainable production growth around the world. As AFCI Executive Director, Claire Brooks shared: “The ability to support projects on the ground is becoming a key differentiator between markets.” #AFCI #Stage32 #Cannes2026 #MarcheDuFilm #FilmIndustry #GlobalProduction

If you’re attending Cannes and trying to understand how independent films are actually getting made right now, this is the conversation you do not want to miss. Tomorrow, Stage 32 and FilmUSA are bringing together Cannes and Oscar-nominated producers, financiers, filmmakers, and talent for an honest discussion about what’s really happening in today’s global film market. This panel is designed to give you real-world insight into: • What’s actually selling right now • How films are being financed • What buyers are responding to globally • What independent filmmakers need to understand moving forward Featuring: Daniel Bekerman, Oscar and Cannes Palme d’or Nominated Producer Tiffany Boyle, Cannes Palme d’or Nominated Producer and President, Packaging & Sales, Ramo Law Richard “RB” Botto, Producer, Screenwriter, CEO, Stage 32 Tonia Sotiropoulou, Actor (SKYFALL:007), Producer Moderated by Stage 32 Managing Director Amanda Toney. 📍 Saturday, May 16th 🕒 3:00 PM 📍 FilmUSA Pavilion If you’re serious about producing, financing, packaging, or getting projects made in today’s landscape, this is one of the most important conversations happening at Cannes this week. Click the Cannes Roll Call link in our bio to RSVP now! What do you think is the biggest challenge independent filmmakers are facing right now? #Cannes2026 #MarcheDuFilm #IndependentFilm #FestivalDeCannes #Stage32

Cannes officially has begun. And for the 12th year, Stage 32 is proud to serve as an Official Education Partner of the Marché du Film. What started as a partnership has grown into a global commitment to helping creatives better understand the business, build stronger relationships, and walk into opportunities like Cannes more prepared and empowered to succeed. And this year, we’re bringing even more to the festival: Panels. Networking events. Industry conversations. Community gatherings. Education designed to help you make the most of every moment on the Croisette. As part of our continued partnership with the Marché du Film, every badge holder receives access to a free Stage 32 webinar with their accreditation, giving creatives around the world direct access to industry education from working professionals. And if you’re attending Cannes this year, you still have time to prepare. Our exclusive webinar with Guillaume Esmiol, Executive Director of the Marché du Film, moderated by Stage 32 Managing Director Amanda Toney, breaks down exactly how to navigate Cannes strategically, confidently, and effectively. Click the link in our bio to check it out now! Because opportunities move fast at Cannes. Preparation matters. What are you most excited for as Cannes officially begins? #Stage32 #Cannes2026 #FestivalDeCannes #MarcheDuFilm #Filmmaking #EntertainmentIndustry #Screenwriting #Producing

If you’re in Cannes this Sunday, this is where you want to be. Creatives from all over the world will gather at RB & Gary’s Brown Sugar for the official Stage 32 Cannes Meetup, and every year this becomes one of the most talked-about gatherings of the festival. Why? Because it’s not about exclusivity or gatekeeping. It’s about real connection. Whether you’re attending Cannes for the first time or you’ve been coming for years, this is your chance to walk into a room full of filmmakers, writers, producers, actors, executives, composers, editors, financiers, distributors, and creatives who genuinely want to meet people and build relationships. And this year, we made it even bigger. We took over an entire bar. 📍 RB & Gary’s Brown Sugar 🕕 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM Cannes Time 📍 17 Rue des Frères Pradignac, Cannes No badge required. Everyone is welcome. RSVP through the Cannes Roll Call link in our bio! You never know which conversation could change everything. Are you coming to the meetup? Let us know in the comments! #Cannes2026 #MarcheDuFilm #FestivalDeCannes #Networking #CannesFilmFestival

Cannes can feel overwhelming fast, especially when you’re trying to figure out where everything actually is around the Palais. That’s why Ashley Smith, Head of Community at Stage 32, is breaking down one of the MOST confusing parts of the Marché du Film: The Village International Pavilions. In today’s walkthrough, you’ll learn: • The difference between the two pavilion areas • How to access the Riviera section behind the Palais • What security checkpoints to expect • Why these areas are some of the BEST places to build real industry connections during Cannes Because some of the most valuable conversations at Cannes happen outside the official meetings. The more prepared you are, the more confident and strategic you’ll feel once the festival begins. Are you attending Cannes this year? What part of the festival are you most excited to explore? #Cannes2026 #MarcheDuFilm #FestivalDeCannes #CannesFilmFestival #Stage32 #Filmmaking #Screenwriting #FilmIndustry #IndependentFilm #Croisette

One more day until Cannes! Tomorrow, the conversations begin, the meetings start, and the Croisette comes alive once again. Amanda and RB will be there representing the Stage 32 community, and we cannot wait to connect with so many of you throughout the festival. And one conversation you absolutely do not want to miss: Women in Film: Building Collective Power Presented by Yes She Cannes in partnership with E2AC! This powerful panel brings together women across the global film industry to discuss how they are building influence, creating opportunities, supporting community, and shaping the future of entertainment through storytelling, leadership, education, and collaboration. Featuring: Amanda Toney, Managing Director of Stage 32 Guneet Monga Kapoor, Oscar-winning producer Sara Hamilton (E2ACxGreenlit) Maria Hundsnes-Shevtsova (DISAUTHORITY) Hosted by Faith Elizabeth, Founder of Yes She Cannes. 📍 Thursday, May 14th 🕓 4:00 PM 📍 Cannes Marché du Film Main Stage, Palais If you’re attending Cannes, this is the kind of panel that can genuinely shift how you think about your career, your voice, and your place in the industry. Who are you most excited to connect with or learn from at Cannes this year? #Stage32 #YesSheCannes #Cannes2026 #FestivalDeCannes #WomenInFilm #MarcheDuFilm #Filmmaking #EntertainmentIndustry

Day 1 at Cannes and we're already announcing deals. This time with the incredible people at the Association of Film Commissioners International (AFCI) There’s a conversation happening all over the world right now about runaway production, shrinking crews, disappearing opportunities, and whether this industry can actually sustain itself long term. But one thing has become very clear to me over the last few years: If we want production to grow globally, we have to invest in the people who actually make production possible. That means training. Education. Workforce development. Real access. Not just for the top of the call sheet, but for the crew members, coordinators, accountants, ADs, location managers, production managers, post supervisors, and every below-the-line professional productions rely on every single day. That’s why this initiative with the Association of Film Commissioners International (AFCI) means so much to all of us at Stage 32. This is not theory. This is action. Together, we’re building global workforce training initiatives designed to help film commissions, regions, and production hubs strengthen their local crews so productions can confidently shoot there, stay there, and grow there. The entertainment industry has changed. The old model is gone. The future belongs to the regions, countries, and communities willing to invest in infrastructure, education, and people. Proud of our team. Big shoutout to Amanda Toney who spearheaded this initiative. Proud of our partners. And deeply grateful to The Hollywood Reporter for covering this important story.

Heading to Cannes? Here is everything you need to know about picking up your badge before the festival begins. 🎬 Two ways to collect: 📍 Registration Office at Gare Maritime — right next to the Palais des Festivals. Staff on hand if you have any issues. 📍 Automatic Kiosks at Pantiero Esplanade — quick self-service pickup if you have your QR code confirmation email ready. What to bring: your valid ID (passport or government-issued photo ID) and your confirmation email barcode — printed or on your phone. Pro tip: pick up early to skip the queues before your first screening. Registration opens May 11th — hours vary by date. Check the video for our full walkthrough @festivaldecannes See you on the Croisette. 🌴 #Cannes2026 #Cannes #MarcheDuFilm #FilmFestival #CannesFilmFestival #Stage32 #IndieFilm #Filmmaking #Screenwriting #Hollywood #FilmIndustry #Cinéma #Croisette #CannesBadge #FilmMarket

2 days until Cannes! The countdown is officially on, and this year’s Stage 32 Cannes panel lineup is packed with conversations you do not want to miss. Whether you’re attending Cannes for the first time or returning with new goals, this is your opportunity to learn directly from working professionals and connect with creatives from around the world. Don’t miss RSVPing for this year’s panels and events through the Roll Call link in our bio! Which panel are you most excited for this year? #Cannes2026 #MarcheDuFilm #FestivalDeCannes #Stage32