Power Outage Strikes Cannes Film Festival: Event Disrupted

An unexpected power outage has hit the town of Cannes, France, affecting over 160,000 households in the area. This incident has cast a shadow over the iconic Cannes Film Festival, especially during its closing weekend. Authorities attribute the outage to a fire at a local power plant in Tanneron, suspected to be arson, though its connection to the film festival remains unclear.

Despite the widespread blackout, the prestigious event at the Festival Palace continued almost unaffected thanks to its independent power supply. However, screenings at the Cineum, a multiplex cinema outside the central area, were disrupted.

The timing of the power failure is particularly poignant as it coincides with the Film Festival’s grand finale. The much-anticipated closing gala, where the winner of the Golden Palm is announced, is expected to proceed as planned later this evening.

As technicians from RTE, the electricity network operator, scramble to restore power, the exact time when electricity will be fully restored remains uncertain. Meanwhile, local media report that a mast also fell on a high-voltage line this morning, adding to the complications, though it is yet to be determined if this incident has a criminal element.

At the festival, the jury, led by French actress Juliette Binoche, will select from 22 films. Notable contenders include works by Iranian Jafar Panahi and Brazilian Kleber Mendonça Filho. Berlin director Mascha Schilinski has also received high praise for her film “Looking into the Sun”.