You had to suspect it! After the postponement of many events, it is the turn of the Festival de Cannes to suffer the repercussions of the coronavirus. The annual meeting on the Croisette will therefore not take place in May as every year. "The Cannes Film Festival will not be able to be held on the scheduled dates, from 12 to 23 May" So expressed the organizers of the Festival on Thursday, May 19. They also said that "several hypotheses" were being studied: "the main one would be a simple postponement, in Cannes, at the end of June-beginning of July 2020". This decision, taken by mutual agreement with the State, did not prevent the organizers from specifying this: "As soon as the evolution of the French and international health situation allows us to assess the real possibility, we will make our decision known".
Good news for the homeless
Since the Palais des Festivals is deprived of its flagship event, we might as well use it for a good cause! The Town Hall has therefore announced the installation of a reception center for the homeless. The municipality also said it would make the place available to health authorities if necessary. Enough to transform these 35,000 m2 into a place of public utility for those who need it most. The visitor centre will be open day and night and will offer beds and meals. Showers will also be provided. In addition to these essential services for the homeless, it was specified that all this would be put in place: "respecting all the distances and health requirements required for homeless reception centers".
The Palais des Festivals: a future hospital?
It may well be that the emblematic places of the Cannes Film Festival will turn into auxiliary hospitals. These could soon be made available: "to best support the health authorities and compensate for the lack of places they may have to face". The Mayor of Cannes David Lisnard also declared: "Cannes wanted to participate in the health mobilization of the events sector initiated by Unimev. Our support for health professionals, public and private, is total. The protection of populations is a top priority." The Palace of Victories, usually dedicated to sporting events, was also made available when needed. The postponement of the Cannes Film Festival therefore seems to be a blessing in disguise. Hopefully, this portends better living conditions for the homeless in the region. Let us also hope that the provision of such large infrastructures will effectively combat the spread of COVID-19.
