Power Outage in Cannes Sparks Chaos Hours Before Film Festival Closing Ceremony

A suspicious fire triggered a major power outage in the city of Cannes, France, just hours before the 78th Cannes Film Festival was set to wrap up with its grand closing ceremony on Saturday, May 24, 2025.

Suspected Arson Behind Widespread Blackout

Authorities suspect arson as the cause of the outage that struck much of southern France, including the entire Alpes-Maritimes region. The fire led to a sudden loss of electricity shortly after 10 a.m., disrupting daily life and cutting off internet access across the city and surrounding areas.

“We are looking into the likelihood of a fire being started deliberately,” said a spokesperson from the French national gendarmerie.

No arrests have been made yet.

Festival Events Affected – But Ceremony Will Go On

The blackout forced the cancellation of multiple scheduled film screenings, including at Cineum IMAX, where 17 movies were slated to show — two of which starred actor Josh O’Conner, alongside Paul Mescal in The History of Sound.

However, festival organizers acted quickly, switching the Palais des Festivals (main venue) to an independent power source. As a result, the Closing Ceremony, including the Palme d’Or presentation, will continue as planned.

“All scheduled events and screenings, including the Closing Ceremony, will proceed under normal conditions,” the Cannes Film Festival said in a statement.

Internet and Banking Also Hit

The blackout impacted not only cinemas but also ATM machines and internet services across Cannes. Power loss was reported up to 6 miles outside the city center.

Despite the disruptions, festivalgoers, press, and celebrities have been reassured that the awards show will not be delayed.