Cannes Festival Will Not Be Cancelled?

Earlier, French weekly news magazine Le Point reported that this year’s Cannes International Flim Festival will be canceled due to coronavirus situation. However, the Cannes denied the news reported and said that the festival to go ahead in spite of the coronavirus shutdown.

The news magazine emphasized on the coronavirus crisis and the government’s measures to combat the life-threatening virus while reporting the cancellation of the infamous film festival.

French government imposed several new restrictions, limiting public gatherings to under 100 people and, from Monday on, closing all schools, universities and daycare centers in a bid to stem the spread of the virus. Several other European countries, including Italy, Spain, and Germany, have introduced a partial or total lockdown as infections and deaths rise across the continent. The U.S. has closed its borders to European travelers, recently expanding its ban to visitors from the U.K. and Ireland.

“It will be very difficult not to say impossible to select films coming from China, Korea, Iran, Italy and undoubtedly of about fifty countries, knowing that the actors and directors will not be able to travel,” the article quotes the board member as saying. “Showing films in a 2,000-seat auditorium [Cannes’ main gala theater is a 2,300-seater] will not be allowed and the slightest alert will worry festival-goers.” The board member noted he could not imagine Spike Lee, this year’s Cannes Jury President, spending “fifteen days in the midst of a crowd in an uncontrolled state of health.”

“Despite some sensational headlines, there are no new elements regarding the Festival de Cannes,” read a festival statement sent to The Hollywood Reporter. “The event, that should take place from May 12 to May 23, is studying with care and clarity the evolution of the national and international situation, in close cooperation with the City of Cannes and the CNC [French National Centre for Cinema]. When the time comes, around mid-April, they will take the necessary decision together.”