Cannes
Film Festival, France’s renowned event, has been postponed,
no thanks to the coronavirus pandemic that is ravaging the globe.
According to the organizers of the prestigious film festival, which is cinema’s largest yearly gathering, they are taking great precautions as COVID-19 continues. The festival was initially scheduled for May 12-23, but on Thursday, a statement was released, indicating that the festival will most likely be moved to the end of June or the beginning of July.
According to the statement,
“As soon as the development of the French and international health situation
allows us to assess the real possibility, our decision will be shared with the
cinematic world.”
Organizers
of Cannes Reluctant to Cancel
The organizers of France’s
renowned film were extremely unwilling to cancel Cannes. This was evident as
the organizers not only deflected questions but also continued pushing through
its selection process.
But the spread of the
coronavirus pandemic across France – and the rest of the world – like wildfire,
the cancellation of Cannes became inevitable. France’s Prime Minister Édouard
Philippe, on Saturday, ordered the immediate closure of all cafes, restaurants,
and cinemas in France to combat the virus and increase social distancing.
Other
Film Festivals That was Affected by the Pandemic
The Tribeca Film Festival, as
well as South by Southwest, are also major film festivals that have been
severely affected by the pandemic. Both have already been scuttled, though a lot
of people hoped that Cannes would hold since it was to be held closer to
summer.
The
Ramifications of Cannes for the Film Industry
Cannes has more extraordinary
ramifications for the film industry as it convenes every year at Cote d’Azur
for both the world’s largest movie market as well as the festival’s gala
screenings. Each year, a myriad of distribution and production deals are
birthed in Cannes.
It is not uncommon for film
executives to fly in from every part of the world and convene at the Marche du
Film located in the Palais, the basement of Cannes’ hub. Every country that has
a film industry is permitted to set up a pavilion at Cannes’ global village.
Indeed, the postponement of
this year’s edition of the Cannes Film Festival is quite unpleasant, given the
fact that the 2019 edition was a huge success.
Coronavirus
and the Cannes Film Festival
Over the past few years, the
film festival has been critically bashed due to increased competition with
other film festivals – such as the Venice Film Festival – and gender
inclusivity.
However, the 2019 edition of
the Cannes Film Festival featured Bong Joon Ho’s “Parasite,” the film that won
Cannes’ Palme d’Or before eventually winning an Oscar. “Once Upon a Time…in
Hollywood” by Quentin Tarantino, “Pain & Glory” by Pedro Almdovar as well
as “Portrait of a Lady on Fire,” a celebrated French drama by Celine Sciamma
were also featured.
But as it stands, it will be
pretty difficult for France to draw and keep healthy film executives,
filmmakers as well as the press from around the world, even if – or when – the
novel coronavirus is eventually contained.
But time will tell.
