- A major power outage in southern France disrupted the Cannes Film Festival. The festival was impacted significantly, but organizers kept events running using backup power.
- Authorities are investigating a possible deliberate fire as the cause of the blackout.
- The festival’s closing ceremony proceeded smoothly with only brief interruptions during morning screenings.
A large power outage struck southern France on Saturday. Around 160,000 homes lost electricity. The blackout spread across several areas, including Cannes. Cannes hosts the annual Cannes Film Festival, a major global event. This sudden loss of power caused concern for both residents and festival organizers.
Power Failure Began Early in the Morning, Teams Respond Immediately
The blackout started around 10 a.m. local time, which is 4 a.m. Eastern Time. France’s electricity transmission network, RTE, quickly confirmed the outage on social media. Electric crews rushed to the scene to find the cause and restore power. They worked hard throughout the day to fix the problem as soon as possible.
Authorities Investigate Possible Deliberate Fire as Cause of Outage
Officials suspect that a fire may have caused the blackout. A spokesperson from the French national gendarmerie said they are investigating whether someone started the fire on purpose. So far, police have not made any arrests. Authorities continue to gather information and monitor the situation closely.
Cannes Film Festival Faces Challenges but Remains Operational
The blackout occurred on the last day of the 78th Cannes Film Festival. The festival has taken place in Cannes for nearly eight decades. The closing ceremony was planned for Saturday evening. Despite the outage, organizers worked fast to keep the event running smoothly.
Generators Power Festival Events to Avoid Interruptions
Festival staff quickly set up generators to provide power during the outage. French public broadcaster FranceInfo reported that the generators kept screenings going. Organizers made sure that most events did not stop or lose power. This solution helped maintain the festival’s busy schedule.
Palais des Festivals Uses Independent Power Supply to Stay On Track
The Palais des Festivals, the main venue of the Cannes Film Festival, switched to an independent power supply. This backup system allowed all scheduled events and screenings to continue without interruption. The festival issued a statement confirming this, as reported by Reuters. The closing ceremony will go ahead under normal conditions.
Organizers Confident Closing Ceremony Will Proceed Without Problems
Festival officials told CNN affiliate BFMTV they feel confident the power outage will not affect the closing ceremony. This ceremony will reveal the winners of the festival’s top awards. Organizers reassured the public that everything will proceed as planned, without delays or technical issues.
The outage caused two screenings on Saturday morning to stop for about five minutes. After this short pause, the screenings resumed normally. Festival staff managed the situation efficiently. They kept the audience informed and minimized disruptions.
Electric Crews Continue Efforts to Restore Power Across the Region
Teams from RTE and local utilities continue working to fix the cause of the blackout. They aim to restore electricity to all affected homes and businesses quickly. Officials promise to keep the public updated on progress. The power cut remains a major event impacting many in southern France.
