A massive power cut plunged Cannes and surrounding Alpes-Maritimes into darkness on Saturday, disrupting final-day screenings at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival before organizers activated emergency generators. France’s electricity operator RTE confirmed 160,000 households lost power, with supply fully restored by 15:00 local time.
As it stands, French authorities are investigating a possible arson attack on a critical power substation as the blackout’s cause. “We’re examining evidence of deliberately set fires,” a gendarmerie spokesperson told Reuters, marking the second infrastructure sabotage case in southern France this year. The outage left restaurants like Jamin Cannes dumping spoiled food as refrigerators failed, with local businesses describing chaotic scenes.
The timing couldn’t have been worse for the 77th Cannes Film Festival, occurring hours before Juliette Binoche’s jury was to award the Palme d’Or. Morning screenings were interrupted until technicians switched venues to private power supplies. “The town has run out of croissants – this is crisis territory,” Australian producer Darren Vukasinovic remarked, capturing the surreal atmosphere.
Why It Matters
Beyond the cultural impact, the outage carried significant financial consequences. Restaurant owner Laurent Aboukrat lost thousands in spoiled inventory, while boutique hotels scrambled to accommodate VIP guests. The festival generates €200 million annually for Cannes’ economy, making infrastructure reliability paramount.
As police continue their investigation, festival organizers have pledged a full review of emergency protocols. The incident casts a shadow over what should have been a triumphant conclusion to cinema’s most glamorous event, with security now dominating post-festival discussions alongside the Palme d’Or winner.
