The Cannes Film Festival is expected to announce whether it will keep its currently scheduled May date or postpone the event to later in the summer before the end of this month.
Variety has revealed that festival organisers are currently looking at moving the festival to a later date, which would see it take place somewhere between July 5th and July 25th.
The reason for an alternative June date not being considered by the Festivals is said to be down to the fact the Cannes Lions, the annual advertising market, is still scheduled to run in its normal slot of June 21st-25th. In 2020, the Cannes Lions market did postpone the event to October, which it then ultimately cancelled due to the pandemic. A source told Variety that this was unlikely to happen again.
It has also been revealed that the syndicate of Cannes hotels (Syndicat des hotels de Cannes et du Bassin Cannois) was told last week that the Cannes Film Festival would more than likely be shifted to a date in July.
“We’d much prefer if the festival happens in May, obviously, but we’ve said we’ll be happy to get prepared to welcome the festival in July; the dates we’ve agreed on are between July 5th and 25th. So, the festival could start roughly around July 5, or a few days later,” a hotel owner near the Palais des Festivals told Variety.
Traditionally, a suggested change of date to the peak tourist season (July-August) would have brought with it major complaints from hotel owners. However, following a miserable few months for hospitality in the Croisette, which has seen Mipcom, MipTV, and Cannes Lions all cancelled in 2020, efforts to pursue a physical event in any capacity has been welcomed by the local industry.
In 2020, Cannes Film Festival was cancelled due to the ongoing pandemic and heightened health risk associated with hosting a physical event, although the Festival did unveil an Official Selection. However, organisers behind the biggest film festival in the world have vowed to host the 2021 edition of Cannes.