Out of Competition – a novel for Cannes?
This is not Cannes. Or the Cannes Film Festival. Let me say that upfront. It’s Renne-Sur-Mer, a far better film festival by the way, a film festival not many get to see because they are blinded by the tinsel razzle-dazzle of Cannes’ annual event, or so it seems.
I documented a year in Renne-Sur-Mer’s historical progress when some unfortunate things happened. It was sad and bit funny at times. But was it fair to portray Renne in such a, well, dubious light. I can say I documented what happened. You work it out. What year was it. You know I can’t remember but it wasn’t that long ago in the future. Here’s ten pages to give you an idea of how chaotic festivals can be when the wheels fly off.
OUT OF COMPETITION (JEF Books 2024)
Kenneth Patchen Award for the innovative novel
‘Laugh out loud funny’
5 OUT OF 5 STARS
Intelligent, provocative and fun
Cherry Jam UK, October 16, 2024 Review
Humorously subversive. It goes so fast I read it in two days. A must for anyone with a love of cinema and its festivals. And the most irreverent novel written about the South of France
5 OUT OF 5 STARS
Ten Years is Enough!
Read-fest UK, 9 September 2025
A sharp satire about democracy set in a Riviera Film Festival facing collapse as young cineastes demonstrate against privilege and lack of transparency in the annual voting shakedown, the novel opening with the kidnap off the streets of a desperate bankrupt Hollywood producer cadging money wherever he can
Out of Competition Ingram distributing, found at:
https://www.experimentalfiction.com/products/out-of-competition
Bookshop.org, bricks & mortar bookstores and online booksellers
Cannes
Renovation 6
Back in London after swimming the rental through the new rain road lakes of La Maremma, back in flood again, unusual for central Italy, and for the second time in a few weeks. Forced by flooded roads and countryside to take a giro di pepe via Latera through Valentano, then Canino to get back to the Aurelia I then turned the wrong way heading back to Grosetto before u-turning back to Rome.
After spending 6 am to 8.30 am in the pouring rain moving things back in to the place from where I was staying during the renovation I left the camera somewhere in all the moved stuff so only have a couple of photos to show of the progression.
Happening during the “raccolta delle olive” outside in the big world..
..I slipped away to slide into the Saturnia hot springs..
Renovation 5 (di mattina)
Renovation 4 (di sera)
Renovation 3
Renovation 2
Stoneware basin
White clay bathroom basin in the making, heading for stoneware.
Swimanög 