CANNES — Acclaimed filmmaker Richard Linklater says making it in independent cinema requires more than just talent—it takes hustle, charm, and unwavering self-belief.
Speaking at IndieWire’s Future of Filmmaking Summit at the Cannes Film Festival, the five-time Oscar nominee reflected on the realities of indie film financing, urging aspiring directors to develop confidence and persistence.
“You have to be a cheap hustler,” Linklater said. “If no one wants to support you, that just means you’re not ready yet. Maybe you don’t have the confidence, or something isn’t radiating from you. People have to believe in you—and that starts with you believing in yourself. You can’t fake that.”
Linklater’s remarks came just days after the Cannes premiere of his latest film, Nouvelle Vague (New Wave), which earned an 11-minute standing ovation and sparked interest from U.S. distributors.
Set in 1960s Paris, Nouvelle Vague centers on French-Swiss auteur Jean-Luc Godard as he directs his groundbreaking debut Breathless. Guillaume Marbeck stars as Godard, alongside Zoey Deutch as American actress Jean Seberg and Aubry Dullin as Jean-Paul Belmondo. The film mirrors the black-and-white aesthetic and free-spirited energy of Godard’s original, with a screenplay by Vince Palmo, Michèle Halberstadt, Laetitia Masson, and Holly Gent.
Linklater, known for Boyhood, Before Sunrise, and Dazed and Confused, continues to champion independent cinema, encouraging new filmmakers to embrace the grind. “You earn belief through hard work, experience, and dedication,” he said.
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