The Cannes Film Festival is likely to be canceled due to concerns over the coronavirus. The annual event takes place in Cannes, France, which is situated along the French Riviera. This year, the festival was scheduled to take place between the 14th and 20th of May. Cannes is an invitation-only event, bringing together some of the most talented filmmakers of all genres, to celebrate the international world of cinema. The top prize is the coveted Palme d'Or, a distinction which Quentin Tarantino's iconic Pulp Fiction won in 1994 and which Bong Joon-ho's Parasite won in 2019 - before being awarded the Oscar for Best Picture.
The festival is one of many casualties the entertainment industry has felt the past couple of weeks. Movie and television releases and productions have been put on indefinite holds. SXSW, which was supposed to take place in Austin, Texas from March 13-20 and The Tribeca Film Festival, set to be in New York from April 15-26, were both canceled. Many other large-scale public events around the world have also been shuffled around as a result of the virus.
The Independent reports The Cannes Film Festival 2020 is possibly canceled due to coronavirus caution. Although the event has yet to be officially canceled, sources are saying that it is doubtful to occur as planned. The publication reports the headline "Le Festival de Cannes n'aura pas lieu" (which means "Cannes Festival is not going to take place") started circulating in the French press on March 14. The event's full program isn't scheduled to be revealed until April 15, so any official decision won't be made until that date.
The French government already banned gatherings of more than 100 people, and all non-essential stores, cafes, restaurants, and cinemas were shut down. Even if the festival takes place, the films will not be shown in large screening rooms. Preparations will continue until a final decision is made. Thierry Fremaux, the festival's director, hopes, "Cannes will be the first world event where we'll (celebrate) life again," after the pandemic.
Considering all the recent news, the potential cancellation of The Cannes Film Festival seems appropriate. It is unfortunate that so many talented filmmakers, whose movies were selected, will most likely not get to enjoy their moment in the spotlight. Many sacrifices are being made to stop the spread of COVID-19, and the entertainment world has been doing its part to help slow the infection. A festival like this is a sizable source of income and pride for Cannes, France. Hopefully, the world can bounce back, and the films of the festival still get their moment to shine.
Source: The Independent