Cannes Film Festival postponed due to coronavirus

PARIS: The Cannes Film Festival,  the world’s most prestigious film festival and cinema’s largest annual gathering, has postponed its 73rd edition due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Organisers confirmed on Thursday evening that the film festival will no longer take place during the scheduled dates of May 12-23, and several options are now being considered, including postponing the event until the end of June through to the beginning of July.

The festival press conference, originally scheduled for April 16, has also been delayed. Cannes is to announce the new date for the press conference when they reveal the exact timings of the festival.

The decision to postpone follows weeks of speculation around the fate of this year’s edition. France also remains in lockdown in its battle against the coronavirus pandemic.

The festival said in a statement, “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.”

“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.

Due to the health crisis and the development of the French and international situation, the Festival de Cannes will no longer be able to take place on the dates planned, from May 12 to 23. More info #Cannes2020 👉 https://t.co/peLmfw0gQW pic.twitter.com/SVWPasvU23

— Festival de Cannes (@Festival_Cannes) March 19, 2020

“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.”

The 2020 postponement marks the first such delay for Cannes since its first edition after World War II in 1946. It was only canceled once in 1968 during the nationwide student riots.

The decision to postpone comes a few days after French President Emmanuel Macron put the country in full lockdown mode for at least two weeks. In Europe, France is the third most impacted country behind Italy and Spain by coronavirus with 10,995 cases and 372 deaths as of Thursday.