COVID-19 impact: Cannes Film Festival postponed, again

The Cannes Film Festival, which was slated to happen in May, was rescheduled to June due to the coronavirus pandemic. However, with the threat still looming large and the number of COVID-19 cases in France increasing, it has now been decided that the Cannes Film Festival will not happen in the June-July window either. 

"Following the French President's statement, on Monday, April 13, we acknowledged that the postponement of the 73rd International Cannes Film Festival, initially considered for the end of June to the beginning of July, is no longer an option," the festival said in a statement, adding: "It is clearly difficult to assume that the Festival de Cannes could be held this year in its original form."

"Nevertheless, since yesterday evening we have started many discussions with professionals, in France and abroad. They agree that the Festival de Cannes, an essential pillar for the film industry, must explore all contingencies allowing to support the year of Cinema by making Cannes 2020 real, in a way or another," added the fest.

Since its first edition after World War II in 1946, the Cannes Film Festival has been canceled only once in 1968 during the nationwide student riots.