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Major Blackout Disrupts Cannes on Film Festival's Final Day

A power outage affecting 160,000 homes in southeastern France has forced Cannes Festival organizers to rely on emergency generators for the closing ceremony, as authorities investigate a suspected criminal fire.

Festival de Cannes 2025.
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Overview

  • A widespread blackout struck the Alpes-Maritimes region, including Cannes, on May 24, cutting power to 160,000 households.
  • The Cannes Film Festival's closing ceremony is proceeding as planned, powered by emergency generators at the Palais des Festivals.
  • Outdoor screenings and some local train station operations were temporarily interrupted, with delays reported but no train cancellations.
  • Authorities are investigating the cause of the outage, with preliminary reports suggesting a likely criminal fire at a high-voltage substation in Tanneron.
  • RTE crews are working to restore electricity across the region, while officials emphasize the importance of grid resilience and emergency preparedness.