If the 2020 Cannes Film Festival was previously on life-support, clinging onto every last bit of hope that it could pull through and actually happen, then the recent announcement from French President Emmanuel Macron is the doctor ordering the event’s organizers to pull the plug. Basically, though it hasn’t been announced yet, it appears that the Cannes Film Festival will likely be canceled this year after public gathering regulations were extended even further in France.
According to THR, Macron recently gave a public address where he stated the ban against all public events, including festivals, would last until mid-July. With most reports pointing to a do-or-die timeframe of late-June for the Cannes Film Festival, it would appear that this announcement is the final nail in the coffin of the 2020 film event. Though again, no announcement has been made by the organizers, so perhaps they have one more trick up their sleeve?
Though public events are still expected to be canceled until mid-July, France is hoping to lessen restrictions on businesses and end the lockdown on May 11. At that time, the country is expected to have the resources to give all citizens face masks and plenty of COVID-19 testing equipment. And at that time, the country will begin to reopen select businesses.
READ MORE: Cannes Boss Says An Online Version Of The Fest Isn’t An Option If The Event Is Canceled
Now, as was reported in an earlier story, Cannes has said that the event only takes about a month to prepare, and if the late-June timetable still is what they’re shooting for, perhaps waiting until after the May 11 date might be beneficial. Perhaps Macron will see how well citizens react to the looser regulations and allow for the mid-July ban to be shortened? Of course, that’s wishful thinking at this point.
And with the organizers of Cannes adamantly opposed to any online alternatives, it would appear that the French President’s ban on public events might just make it impossible for the film festival to happen in 2020, adding to the already chaotic and stressful year for the film industry.