BMW thrills in Cannes with Hollywood action and a sustainable marine experience.

More than 200 fully electric vehicles, a spectacular short film featuring Hollywood stars and a revolutionary marine experience: in its second year as Official Partner of the Cannes Film Festival, BMW majored on sustainable luxury, electrifying action and progressive mobility on water.

The shuttle service on the transfer routes around the Palais des Festivals et des Congrès gave the international guests, festival participants and VIPs the opportunity to experience locally emission-free premium mobility in a luxury car. The highlight of the festival fleet was the new BMW i7 M70 xDrive (electric power consumption combined: 23.8 – 20.8 kWh/100 km in the WLTP cycle). The most powerful fully electric BMW model also plays a lead role in the latest BMW Films production. At the heart of the short film “The Calm” debuting at Cannes is a silent car chase sequence featuring the luxury sedan. Meanwhile, in the port area of the southern French town, BMW teamed up with boat maker TYDE to unveil a new form of emission-free mobility on water: The ICON, a revolutionary watercraft with battery-electric drive and a trailblazing design.

The 13.15-metre-long watercraft The ICON represents a maritime interpretation of emission-free and luxurious mobility. The use of hydrofoils (wing structures below the water level) enables a top speed of 30 knots (55 km/h) which, together with a range of more than 50 nautical miles, sees The ICON setting new standards for electrically powered watercraft. The audience in Cannes were enthralled by the craft’s almost silent progress with no noticeable swell and its sumptuously appointed interior.

While project initiator BMW provided the necessary knowhow and Designworks – the BMW Group’s innovation hub – was charged with the design of the craft, the conception and realisation work was carried out by boat maker TYDE. The drive sound and function tones were the creations of film score composer Hans Zimmer. The ICON is focused on modern, urban lifestyles and it will be possible for future variants to be personalised by their customers and used as a means of marine transport both in the luxury-conscious private sphere and in the commercial sector.

The BMW Pavillon at the Port de Cannes not only provided the launch point for demo runs with The ICON and the venue for fascinating panel discussions, it also hosted a very special cinematic attraction. Celebrating its world premiere as part of the festival was the latest BMW Films production “The Calm”, which boasts both an illustrious international on-screen cast and star quality behind the camera. Pom Klementieff and Uma Thurman, whole play the leads in the breathless spy thriller, also attended the premiere of the seven-minute short film, together with Hollywood producer Joseph Kosinski and star director Sam Hargrave[PR1] .

This was a film screening with a twist: the spy flick was shown exclusively in the rear of the new BMW i7. Ready and waiting to deliver this extraordinary in-car cinema experience in the quayside car park on the Côte d’Azur were around 40 examples of the new BMW 7 Series Sedan. Inside these exclusive private cinema lounges, the BMW Theatre Screen with 31.3-inch panoramic display and integrated 36-channel surround sound system laid on several unforgettable minutes of premium entertainment. And those who did not have the pleasure of watching the screening in the luxurious rear compartment of the BMW i7 can also enjoy “The Calm” at home from their couch via the BMW YouTube channel.