Cannes Vs. Coronavirus: If the World’s Biggest Festival Is Canceled, Here’s What Happens1 min read
Reading Time: < 1 minuteSo far, for various stakeholders, the biggest film-industry impact of the coronavirus is either dwindling box office in China or the decision to move the new James Bond movie into the fall. However, as the number of confirmed cases worldwide inches toward 100,000 with an estimated 3,356 deaths, the most pressing question facing the international film business is the 73rd edition of the Cannes Film Festival, slated to take place May 12 – 23. As the largest global film event, virtually every country in the world is waiting to find out if the dense French Riviera gathering can move forward.
Cannes itself has yet to make any public decision, leaving scores of industry players at every level speculating about the sprawling convergence of red-carpet glamour, world-class programming, and marketplace activity. Last year’s edition was especially impressive: the Marche du Film reported a record 12,527 participants, and the Competition awarded the Palme d’Or to future Best Picture winner Parasite, which premiered the same day as Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.
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