A major power outage struck Cannes and parts of the French Riviera, leading to disruption on the final day of the Cannes Film Festival. Approximately 160,000 homes lost power Saturday, according to France's electricity operator RTE. Authorities are currently probing a possible arson attack as the leading suspect behind the incident.
Despite the setback, festival organizers confirmed that the closing ceremony would proceed as planned, utilizing an alternative power supply to keep events running. The outage had a considerable impact on local businesses, with shops and restaurants struggling to maintain operations. Laurent Aboukrat, the owner of Jamin restaurant in Cannes, expressed his frustrations, stating, "Another hour and I'll throw everything away," referencing his non-operational fridges since the morning. He added that the situation felt like a "total slowdown" for Cannes.
Australian producer Darren Vukasinovic echoed these sentiments, noting the crisis that left the town short on essentials like coffee and croissants. Police investigations are focusing on a potential deliberate fire at a power substation, with a gendarmerie spokesperson confirming their inquiry into the likelihood of an intentional act.
As the day progresses, excitement builds for the festival's main event, where French actress Juliette Binoche and her jury will announce the Palme d'Or winner, the festival's most prestigious accolade. Prior to the power restoration at 15:00 local time (11:00 GMT), several screenings were interrupted before organizers successfully switched to private generators to continue the festival's activities.
