The shoe has finally dropped on the Cannes Film Festival and it has been postponed, amid the Coronavirus outbreak.
“At this time of global health crisis, our thoughts go to the victims of the Covid-19 and we express our solidarity with all of those who are fighting the disease,” a statement from festival organizers said.
With the original dates being May 12 to May 23, festival reps say that they hope that the festival would happen later in the summer, with a potential date in late June or early July.
“As soon as the development of the French and international health situation will allow us to assess the real possibility, we will make our decision known, in accordance with our ongoing consultation with the French Government and Cannes’ City Hall as well as with the Festival’s Board Members, Film industry professionals and all the partners of the event. In the meantime, the Festival de Cannes lends its vocal support to all of those who firmly call on everyone to respect the general lockdown, and ask to show solidarity in these difficult times for the entire world.”
It’s was only six days ago that the festival was full steam ahead, “The festival staff members are currently working to prepare the event scheduled, as usual, the second week of May,” organizers said at the time and that a decision would be made in April.
This is the first time that The Cannes Film Festival has been postponed, as it was cancelled in 1968 due to student protests.