Cannes Film Festival is hit by blackout caused by 'sabotage' as police hunt perpetrators
The Cannes Film Festival was briefly brought to a halt due to a major power outage that struck south-eastern France on Saturday which police believe was caused by 'sabotage'.
About 160,000 households in the Alpes-Maritimes department lost electricity after an electricity substation had been set on fire and a pylon at another location was damaged, electricity network operator RTE said on X.
Disruption was also caused to traffic light systems, train services and retail outlets in the French Riviera city, as the film festival prepared for its glittering closing ceremony.
Police have opened an investigation into possible arson at the substation.
'We are looking into the likelihood of a fire being started deliberately,' said a spokesperson for the French national gendarmerie.
Laurent Hottiaux, the prefect of the Alpes-Maritimes department, condemned 'serious acts of damage to electrical infrastructures'.
'All resources are mobilized to identify, track down, arrest and bring to justice the perpetrators of these acts,' said Mr Hottiaux.
Cannes Film Festival organisers confirmed the outage affected the early activities and said the Palais des Festivals, the Croisette's main venue, had switched to an independent power supply.
'All scheduled events and screenings, including the Closing Ceremony, will proceed as planned and under normal conditions,' the statement said.
'At this stage, the cause of the outage has not yet been identified. Restoration efforts are under way.'
Screenings at the Cineum, one of the festival's satellite venues, were briefly suspended, while other festival activities when ahead as planned, the festival added.
Traffic lights in parts of Cannes and the surrounding city of Antibes stopped working after 10am, leading to traffic jams and confusion in city centres.
Most shops along the Croisette remained closed, and local food kiosks were only accepting cash. Train services in Cannes were also disrupted.
Authorities said restoration efforts are ongoing and urged residents to remain cautious during travel.
The closing ceremony went ahead and the festival winners announced, despite the unexpected setback.
The interruption did little to dampen the festival's spirit, as the celebration managed to resume in time to honor cinematic excellence.
French actor Laurent Lafitte hosted the closing ceremonies, with Jury president Juliette Binoche and Cate Blanchett presenting the Palme d'Or.
Taking home the festival's highest honor, was acclaimed Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi for It Was Just an Accident.
The searing revenge drama, inspired by Panahi's own experiences with political imprisonment, follows a group of former inmates as they confront the man responsible for their suffering.
Winner: Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi took home the top prize for It Was Just An Accident
While on stage, Panahi said what mattered most was the future of his country.
He said: 'Let us join forces. No one should tell us what kind of clothes we should wear, or what we should or shouldn't do.'
Meanwhile, the Grand Prix was awarded to Norwegian director Joachim Trier for Sentimental Value.
A reflective and intimate portrayal of familial bonds and emotional reckoning, the film was praised for its delicate balance of melancholy and warmth.
Brazilian director Kleber Mendonca Filho received the Best Director accolade for his gripping political thriller The Secret Agent.
Set during the final years of Brazil's military dictatorship, the film explores themes of surveillance, resistance, and loyalty.
The lead role, played by Wagner Moura, also earned the Best Actor award, marking a standout performance that captivated audiences and critics alike.
The festival also recognized rising talent, with Nadia Melliti named Best Actress for her role in La Petite Derniere (The Little Sister).
Her portrayal of a young woman navigating questions of identity, heritage, and independence in modern-day Paris was hailed as a breakout performance.
The film also received the Queer Palm, further cementing its status as one of the year's most impactful entries.
In a rare decision, the Jury Prize was shared between two films.
Oliver Laxe's Sirat, a poignant account of a father's desperate search for his missing daughter in Morocco, shared the honor with The Sound Of Falling, a meditative German drama by Mascha Schilinski that explores grief and renewal with quiet power.
Veteran auteurs Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne added to their long list of accolades with the Best Screenplay award for Young Mothers.
Their script, marked by the Dardennes' signature realism and humanity, delves into the lives of teenage mothers facing societal and personal challenges.
Cannes Film Festival 2025 winners
Palme d'Or - Jafar Panahi, It Was Just an Accident
Grand Prix - Joachim Trier, Sentimental Value
Best Actress - Nadia Melliti, La Petite Dernière
Best Director - Kleber Mendonça Filho, The Secret Agent
Jury Prize - Tie: Oliver Laxe, Sirat dir. Mascha Schilinski, The Sound of Falling
Best Screenplay - Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne, Young Mothers
Best Actor - Wagner Moura, The Secret Agent
Special Prize - Bi Gan, Resurrection
Camera d'Or - Hassan Hadi, The President's Cake
Special Mention, Camera d'Or - Akinola Davies Jr, My Father's Shadow
Short Film Palme d'Or - Tawfeek Barhom, I'm Glad You're Dead Now
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