Arson Investigated Following Power Outage That Disrupted Cannes Film Festival’s Grand Finale

CANNES, France — A power outage in southeast France almost disrupted the closing ceremonies of the Cannes Film Festival on Saturday. French officials are investigating the possibility of arson after a fire damaged an electrical substation near Cannes.

The power returned just in time, around 3 p.m., as music filled the air, and the locals cheered. About 160,000 homes in the Alpes-Maritimes area lost electricity during the blackout.

Laurent Hottiaux, the local prefect, condemned the destruction of electrical infrastructure. He stated that all available resources would be used to identify and arrest those responsible.

Although the power outage initially caused delays, festival organizers managed to switch to an independent power supply at the Palais des Festivals, ensuring that all events, including the prestigious Palme d’Or ceremony, continued as scheduled.

Traffic lights went dark in parts of Cannes and nearby Antibes, leading to traffic jams and confusion. Most shops along the Croisette closed, and local kiosks only accepted cash. Train services in Cannes were also temporarily interrupted.

The Palme d’Or, awarded to the best film at the festival, was still set to be announced on Saturday night. The competition was fierce, featuring films like Joachim Trier’s “Sentimental Value” and Jafar Panahi’s “It Was Just an Accident.”

In recent years, the Cannes Film Festival has faced other challenges, including balancing celebrity attendance and security concerns. The need for robust safety measures has only grown, with festivals worldwide adopting new protocols since the pandemic. This incident raises questions about infrastructure safety and public event security, especially given that a similar incident during a major public event can lead to severe consequences.

According to a 2023 survey from Event Safety Alliance, 72% of festival organizers cited safety and emergency plans as their top priority. This highlights how critical it is for events like Cannes to ensure that they are prepared for unexpected incidents.

Overall, while the festival’s closing went on, this incident served as a reminder of the significance of safety and infrastructure in event planning.



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General news, Power outages, Cannes Film Festival, Entertainment, World news, Article, 122148128