Cannes Film Festival is back on: Details here
A tweaked version of Cannes Film Festival is back on. The organizers have decided to hold a special three-day in-person event. It will be held from October 27-29 and will screen the four films chosen in the 2020 Official Selection, namely The Big Hit! by Emmanuel Courcol, The French Tech by Bruno Podalydès, True Mothers by Naomi Kawase and Beginning by Déa Kulumbegashvili.
Jury will also present the Palme d'Or and Cinéfondation prizes
At the event, a jury will also present the Palme d'Or and Cinéfondation prizes to the winners. "We're delighted to see the Festival hosted by the Cannes City Hall, just as we were sad not to have held it in May," said festival president Pierre Lescure. Meanwhile, Cannes's Mayor David Lisnard said the event symbolizes "our fight on behalf of the events sector."
This is our way to be in Cannes, declares festival-president
"Thanks to this collaboration, films from the Official Selection will now be shown on the Croisette again. This is our way to be in Cannes, alongside its population and all the professionals with whom we work hand in hand every year," said Lescure. Festival organizers are taking cues from COVID-19 safety norms imposed at Venice and San Sebastian film festivals to ensure optimum entertainment.
56 films would have the Cannes promotional label
2020 Special Cannes will start by screening The Big Hit! Due to coronavirus crippling Europe, organizers of the festival had issued a press statement in March, stating the postponement of the event, which was initially scheduled in May. In June, the officials released a list of 56 films that would have the Cannes promotional label even if the show doesn't happen this year.
Pandemic has made the French city lose $940 million
Understandably, the pandemic has made the French city poorer. According to Lisnard, Cannes gets 85% of its income from international events and COVID-19 has caused it to lose around $941 million. With hotels closed for an indefinite period, livelihoods are at stake for independent contractors. The fear has also made some hoteliers develop cold feet for the 2021 edition, scheduled from May 11-22.
