Cannes Film Festival hit by major power outage, authorities suspect foul play

Cannes Film Festival hit by power outage on closing day, suspected sabotage linked to arson acts and damaged pylons.

The city of Cannes experienced a large-scale power outage on Saturday morning, only hours before the Cannes Film Festival’s highly anticipated closing ceremony. Despite the disruption, festival organizers confirmed the ceremony will “proceed as planned,” with the Palais des Festivals now operating on an independent power supply.

According to Variety, the blackout affected multiple parts of the city, including several festival screening venues where films were interrupted mid-showing. The incident also caused disruptions at restaurants, which either closed or operated on a cash-only basis due to ATM failures. Attendees sought stable power and internet access at places like the J.W. Marriott on the Croisette, though power there remained inconsistent.

The outage began around 10:15 a.m. local time, just as a press conference was starting for director Kelly Reichardt’s competition film, The Mastermind. Screen Daily was the first to report the power loss, which has significantly affected festival operations, particularly at the Cineum, where screenings were temporarily halted.

Officials are investigating whether the blackout was the result of foul play. According to Franceinfo, the outage may be linked to two arson incidents reported overnight and the discovery of sawn-off power line pylons in the Alpes-Maritimes region. The French Ministry of the Interior has noted the possibility of “malicious acts,” and the mayor of Cannes, David Lisnard, stated that EDF, the national power company, is working to restore electricity.

Karin Topin-Condomitti, director of services at Cannes city hall, acknowledged the growing media reports of suspected sabotage. “In my opinion, this should be the subject of an ongoing investigation,” she said, noting that the public prosecutor’s office would confirm the cause. “In any case, we’re taking action to deal with the consequences of this power cut as best we can.”

Despite the challenges, the festival’s awards ceremony is set to take place at 6:40 p.m. CET. Jury president Juliette Binoche will lead the panel in announcing this year’s winners, including the prestigious Palme d’Or and top acting awards.