Cannes Film Festival Disrupted by Suspected Sabotage and Power Outage

On the final day of the Cannes Film Festival, an unexpected power outage caused by suspected sabotage disrupted multiple screenings as authorities investigated the incidents.

Reports indicate that about 160,000 residences in Cannes and nearby areas experienced a power cut early Saturday, attributed to suspected acts of sabotage involving an arson attack on an electricity substation and damage to a pylon. Fortunately, festival organizers confirmed that the closing ceremony would proceed as planned, thanks to backup power systems in place.

According to local officials, the first disruption occurred when arsonists targeted a substation in Tanneron, a village supplying electricity to Cannes. Shortly afterwards, damage to an electricity pylon near Villeneuve-Loubet resulted in a further outage around 10:00 AM (08:00 GMT). As a result, local businesses struggled to function. Restaurant owner Laurent Aboukrat expressed his frustration to AFP, stating, “Another hour and I'll throw everything away,” as his fridges were left without power since morning.

Adding to the chaos, Australian producer Darren Vukasinovic described the situation in Cannes as a "total slowdown, meltdown." He noted that shops had run out of coffee and croissants, highlighting the gravity of the situation. During the morning hours, several screenings faced interruptions; however, festival organizers managed to switch to private generators to minimize the disruption.

With the final day underway, all eyes are now on French actress Juliette Binoche and her jury, who are set to announce the winner of the esteemed Palme d'Or, the festival's highest honor. Despite the challenges, the determination to maintain the festival's reputation remains strong among organizers and attendees alike.