Cannes, France — A significant power outage struck southern France on Saturday morning, leaving approximately 160,000 homes without electricity, including parts of the city currently hosting the renowned Cannes Film Festival. The outage began around 10 a.m. local time and is being addressed by teams from the country’s electricity transmission network, RTE, which is working to restore power swiftly.
Authorities are investigating the possibility that the outage was related to a deliberate act. A spokesperson for the French national gendarmerie confirmed they are exploring this angle, though no arrests have been made in connection with the incident.
The Cannes Film Festival is in its final day, marking 78 years of the event that showcases international cinematic talent. The festival’s closing ceremony is slated for Saturday evening, raising concerns about the potential impact of the blackout on this high-profile occasion.
Festival organizers announced that they are prepared, utilizing generators to maintain screenings and ensure events proceed without major disruption. The Palais des Festivals, the main venue for festival activities, has shifted to an independent power supply, allowing all events, including the closing ceremony, to continue as scheduled.
The outage briefly interrupted two film screenings on Saturday morning, but organizers reported that operations resumed within five minutes. They reassured attendees that the blackout would not hinder the announcement of this year’s top prize winners at the closing ceremony.
This year’s festival has drawn significant global attention, with numerous films vying for accolades and a host of stars in attendance. The power outage, occurring on such a pivotal day, underscores the challenges faced by event organizers in managing unforeseen crises.
With the festival’s reputation on the line, officials remain confident in their contingency plans, emphasizing that all necessary measures are in place to ensure a seamless conclusion to the festivities.
As evening approaches, anticipation grows for the highlights of the festival’s closing events, as both attendees and filmmakers look to celebrate the contributions of the film industry amidst the unexpected challenges of the day.