IT MAY BE some way from becoming the true pan-Euro show that so many long to see, but next week’s Interactive and Digital Entertainment Festival in Cannes is growing in strength.

This year’s event runs from Tuesday June 26th to Thursday June 28th in the Riviera Hall of the Palais des Festivals.

Its 77 exhibitors include the three format owners, whilst some 380 key buyers are expected to attend from retailer groups in France, Italy, Belgium, Switzerland, the Netherlands and Canada.
IDEF chairman and Eidos France managing director Patrick Melchior hopes to take the event forward at a rapid pace, but currently there are no plans to directly target the UK or northern European territories.

“First and foremost, we must get Spain and Portugal on board next year,” he told MCV. “This will contribute to the Europeanisation of the show.

“Another possible avenue of growth could be to open the show to the consumer.”