“At this time of global health crisis, our thoughts go to the victims of the Covid-19 and we express our solidarity with all of those who are fighting the disease,” the festival said in a statement, cautioning that a definite date had not been selected for the rescheduling.
“As soon as the development of the French and international health situation will allow us to assess the real possibility, we will make our decision known.”
Cannes Festival has never been postponed since its first edition in 1946, though it was canceled in 1968 due to the student riots in France. The country has been hit hard by the coronavirus – after Italy and Spain, it has the most cases, with 10,995 as of Thursday. The death toll increased 41 percent over the previous day.
President Emmanuel Macron declared “war” on the virus on Tuesday by imposing a mandatory quarantine scheduled to last 15 days. People are allowed to leave their homes only to buy essential supplies and medicine and to engage in light exercise, and anyone found outside without a written explanation of their business can be fined.
Cannes joins a long list of festivals to be postponed because of coronavirus, including the Tribeca Film Festival and Cannes Lions. Others have been canceled, including South by Southwest, Glastonbury Music Festival, and the Eurovision Song Contest.
