The Cannes Film Festival faced significant disruptions due to suspected sabotage resulting in power outages affecting over 160,000 homes. Despite the challenges, festival organizers secured an alternative power source to proceed with the final ceremony.
Power Outage and Suspected Sabotage Disrupt Cannes Film Festival's Final Day
Power Outage and Suspected Sabotage Disrupt Cannes Film Festival's Final Day
A suspected act of sabotage leads to large-scale power cuts, affecting the closing events of the prestigious Cannes Film Festival.
In a startling turn of events, the Cannes Film Festival was thrown into chaos on its final day by a power cut attributed to suspected sabotage. Early on Saturday morning, around 160,000 residences in Cannes and nearby areas were plunged into darkness, with power only restored in the afternoon. Local authorities revealed that an electricity substation had been set ablaze, alongside damage sustained by a nearby pylon. Despite these challenges, festival organizers confirmed that the closing ceremony would proceed as scheduled, thanks to an alternative power supply.
According to prosecutors, the initial outage was triggered when arsonists attacked a substation in Tanneron, the main supplier of electricity for Cannes, during the early hours. This was followed by a second cut around 10:00 AM (08:00 GMT) due to the deliberate cutting of pylon supports near the town of Villeneuve-Loubet. The situation put immense strain on local businesses; restaurant owner Laurent Aboukrat expressed his frustration to AFP, lamenting that his fridges had remained off since morning.
The power cut further affected local establishments, with many shops and restaurants unable to operate. Prominent Australian producer, Darren Vukasinovic, described the state of Cannes as one of a "total slowdown," as simple pleasures such as coffee and croissants became scarce amidst the crisis.
Several film screenings experienced interruptions due to the outage before festival organizers effectively switched to private generators. With the awards ceremony imminent, the anticipated announcement of the Palme d'Or winner by French actress Juliette Binoche and her jury loomed large, despite the unexpected turmoil.
According to prosecutors, the initial outage was triggered when arsonists attacked a substation in Tanneron, the main supplier of electricity for Cannes, during the early hours. This was followed by a second cut around 10:00 AM (08:00 GMT) due to the deliberate cutting of pylon supports near the town of Villeneuve-Loubet. The situation put immense strain on local businesses; restaurant owner Laurent Aboukrat expressed his frustration to AFP, lamenting that his fridges had remained off since morning.
The power cut further affected local establishments, with many shops and restaurants unable to operate. Prominent Australian producer, Darren Vukasinovic, described the state of Cannes as one of a "total slowdown," as simple pleasures such as coffee and croissants became scarce amidst the crisis.
Several film screenings experienced interruptions due to the outage before festival organizers effectively switched to private generators. With the awards ceremony imminent, the anticipated announcement of the Palme d'Or winner by French actress Juliette Binoche and her jury loomed large, despite the unexpected turmoil.
