"A compelling blend of luxury, innovation, and sustainability."
BMW will return to the Cannes Film Festival in 2023 as an Official Partner after making its debut that year. Over 200 all-electric vehicles and the new BMW XM models with plug-in hybrid drive are being provided by the Bavarian premium automaker for the 76th edition of the celebrated festival and some of its Official Partners. A new action-packed BMW Films project will premiere at this international film festival in the south of France, alongside the premiere of the cutting-edge new watercraft THE ICON. Also making its first public appearance is the new BMW i7 M70 xDrive, the most powerful and fastest all-electric car in the whole brand's lineup.
“We’re delighted to be able to continue our official partnership with the Cannes Film Festival,” says Jens Thiemer, Senior Vice President Customer & Brand BMW. “The festival is committed to becoming younger, more zeitgeisty and more digital, which makes this partnership the ideal platform for our luxury BMW products. We are celebrating the premiere of the new BMW Films production in Cannes, the latest release in our legendary BMW Films series. Plus, with both THE ICON and the BMW i7 M70 xDrive, we’re creating a compelling blend of luxury, innovation, and sustainability.”
Iris Knobloch, President of the Cannes Festival, adds: “In 2022, BMW joined the Cannes Festival as an Official Automotive Partner, providing a fleet of 80 exceptional 100% electric models, in line with the festival's environmental policy. We are proud and happy to be able to count on the support of BMW, whose relationship with the seventh art is historic, and who will, once again, accompany all of our guests on their various journeys.”
The new BMW Films production sees the luxury Bavarian brand continue its custom of using current models as the stars of cinematic highlights. For more than 20 years, an impressive roster of Hollywood helmers has delivered riveting short films starring A-list actors and their four-legged co-stars. Star is one of the most well-known examples; it features a thrilling car chase leading up to a movie premiere. In their most recent film, The Getaway, BMW Films featured a stunning chase sequence involving a BMW 5 Series vehicle. When the new BMW Films production debuts at Cannes, fans will be treated to fast-paced driving scenes, spectacular action, and an all-star cast.
At the Port de Cannes, visitors to the film festival will be treated to a premiere of a different kind: the first public showing of THE ICON. BMW and boat manufacturer TYDE collaborated to design and construct this cutting-edge vessel, which provides emission-free waterborne transportation and represents a new, forward-thinking take on luxury.
BMW i's extensive background in electric mobility, TYDE's knowledge of boat construction, and BMW Group subsidiary Designworks' futuristic aesthetic come together in THE ICON. The premiere of THE ICON at the Cannes Film Festival brings further attention to BMW's comprehensive strategy for achieving sustainable transportation in the world of tomorrow.
The world's film industry will converge on the Côte d'Azur resort of Cannes from May 16th through the 27th, 2023, to view the year's most significant new works and to watch the presentation of the Palme d'Or award. BMW is in charge of the event's shuttle service throughout the city's different transfer routes to and from the Palais des Festivals et des Congrès. BMW's fleet of current cars on display all feature electrified powertrains, allowing them to quietly and cleanly navigate the busy streets of Cannes. Because of this, the foreign guests, festival participants, and VIPs all get a real sense of sustainable luxury.
The assortment of electrified BMW models presently available for the festival and some of its Official Partners is reflected in the make-up of the fleet supplied for the event. The first high-performance model from BMW M GmbH with plug-in hybrid drive, the BMW XM, and the all-electric BMW iX M60 xDrive will be on display and driving through the historic Boulevard de la Croisette. The car's M HYBRID driving system and the M Lounge in the back provide passengers with a one-of-a-kind performance experience. With its hydrogen fuel cell technology, the BMW iX5 Hydrogen provides an alternative path to sustainable transportation.
The film festival is a perfect venue for the all-electric BMW i7 M70 xDrive to showcase its status as the pinnacle of eco-friendly luxury.
Festival-goers riding in the back of a BMW i7 may watch the latest BMW Films production on the BMW Theatre Screen, a 31.3-inch panoramic display. When viewed from the rear of the BMW i7, the BMW Theatre Screen stretches across almost the entire width of the interior, beginning at the headliner and extending downward to the front seat backrests. A private cinema experience may be had from the second row thanks to the big panoramic screen and Bowers & Wilkins Diamond Surround Sound System.