2025 Marché du Film Insights

How to Protect Your Film from Piracy on the Festival Circuit

The 77th edition of the Festival de Cannes and its vibrant marketplace, Marché du Film, once again transformed the Croisette into the epicenter of global cinema. With the eyes of the world fixed on the red carpet, the atmosphere pulsed with an energy that felt more electric than ever.

From avant-garde debuts to long-awaited auteur masterpieces, Cannes 2025 reminded us why cinema remains one of the most powerful storytelling mediums. The conversations were rich, the screenings bold, and the buzz unmistakable: creativity met purpose, and filmmakers from around the world gathered to share stories that push boundaries and spark thought.

As with every year, DigiGuardians was on the ground not just as spectators, but as active participants in the evolving dialogue around content protection in today’s fast-moving film industry.

In this dynamic setting, we connected with filmmakers, producers, and distributors, many of whom were encountering DigiGuardians for the first time. A recurring concern emerged: while the excitement of showcasing a film at Cannes is undeniable, so is the growing threat of digital piracy and unauthorized distribution.

We shared insights on how pirated copies, often leaked during or shortly after festival screenings, can cast a long shadow over a film’s commercial success by disrupting release plans and reducing long-term market potential.

This year, one of the most pressing issues raised was the increasing risk of piracy beginning as early as the festival circuit. Before a single cinema premiere takes place, screeners can find their way online, disrupting distribution deals and diminishing exclusivity before the film even reaches audiences.

If pirated copies of a film can leak during festival screenings, even before a single premiere takes place, then the real question becomes: When should protection truly begin?

How Festival Leaks Impact Your Commercial Strategy

During a film’s festival journey, global attention increases significantly, and while festivals are designed to elevate visibility, that very visibility can unfortunately open the door to unexpected leaks. As your film travels the circuit, gaining momentum, it also faces an increased risk of being copied or shared without authorization, sometimes even before it has had its official premiere.

Some might argue that such early exposure builds buzz. But in reality, it makes your content more susceptible to unauthorized duplication and distribution.

With screener leaks during private festival screenings on the rise, the risk window opens much earlier than most anticipate.

Such infringements go far beyond isolated incidents. They have the potential to disrupt a film’s entire commercial strategy:

• Reducing audience interest in international theatrical releases
• Weakening long-term licensing potential
• Directly affecting box office performance

The key lies in implementing smart, proactive protection strategies from the very beginning of your festival journey.

At DigiGuardians, we begin protecting many filmmakers’ creative works from the very first festival screening. Our protection strategy isn’t just reactive; it’s powered by real-time, proactive enforcement through our proprietary technology.

The Cornerstone of Anti-Piracy

Our AI-supported system scans the internet 24/7, mimicking real user behavior to detect pirated copies across every layer of the web, from torrent networks and illegal streaming sites to indexing services and user-generated content platforms. Unlike systems limited to specific platforms, ours operates without boundaries, covering the entire digital surface.

Once an infringement is detected, we immediately initiate takedown procedures, achieving a 96 percent success rate in removing unauthorized content over the past three years.

In today’s digital-first world, ensuring your film hasn’t leaked is just as critical as preventing a leak in the first place. Vigilance, intelligent technology, and deep industry expertise come together to ensure your film stays secure, not just at release, but from the moment it steps into the spotlight.

This isn’t about limiting visibility. It’s about enabling it safely and strategically.

Start Strong, Stay Protected

When your content is properly protected, you can fully leverage opportunities:

• Generate meaningful interest from international audiences and build momentum toward a successful theatrical launch 
• Negotiate with confidence when engaging buyers, streamers, and distributors 
• Preserve long-term commercial value across every stage of your film’s lifecycle

As the industry continues to evolve, content protection is no longer optional. It is essential, especially in an environment where early exposure can either propel your film to global success or significantly compromise its potential before it ever reaches the screen.

At DigiGuardians, we are here to empower creators not just to tell powerful stories, but to safeguard them from the start.

If you are preparing for your next festival journey, let’s talk about how to protect your story before it reaches the screen. Wouldn’t it be great to walk into your next screening with peace of mind, knowing your story is already safe?