A sudden power outage plunged parts of southeastern France into darkness Saturday morning, casting a shadow over the final day of the Cannes Film Festival and threatening to derail one of the film industry’s most prestigious events. The disruption sparked a swift police response and an investigation into what authorities say could be a deliberate act of sabotage.
The outage, which struck the Alpes-Maritimes region—including the glitzy resort town of Cannes—temporarily halted the festival’s operations just hours before the highly anticipated Palme d’Or ceremony. Officials said approximately 160,000 homes were affected after a high-voltage power line fell early Saturday. The incident came on the heels of an overnight fire at an electrical substation near Cannes that had already strained the grid.
Electricity network operator RTE confirmed the blackout on social media, noting that efforts were underway to stabilize the system. By mid-afternoon, power had been fully restored, with beachfront speakers roaring back to life around 3 p.m. local time. The return of electricity was met with cheers from residents and tourists alike, eager to see the iconic festival resume without further interruption.
Law enforcement quickly launched a criminal investigation into the sequence of events, which authorities believe may not have been accidental. A spokesperson for France’s national gendarmerie said that arson is being actively considered. Laurent Hottiaux, the prefect of the Alpes-Maritimes department, issued a firm condemnation of what he called “serious acts of damage to electrical infrastructure,” vowing that “all resources are mobilized to identify, track down, arrest and bring to justice the perpetrators of these acts.”
Festival organizers confirmed the blackout had impacted some early-day events but reassured attendees that all screenings and the closing ceremony would proceed as planned. The Palais des Festivals, the main venue along Cannes’ famed Croisette, was quickly switched to a backup power system to avoid further disruption.
Despite the restored electricity, the morning chaos left its mark. Traffic lights across parts of Cannes and neighboring Antibes were knocked offline, triggering gridlock and confusion. Shops along the boulevard stayed shuttered for hours, and many local vendors were forced to go cash-only. Train service through the area was briefly suspended as well.
Satellite screenings at the Cineum theater were temporarily paused but resumed by the afternoon. Still, the uncertainty hung over the city until the lights finally returned.
The Palme d’Or, Cannes’ highest honor, was scheduled to be awarded Saturday evening, with a competitive slate of international films in contention. Among the frontrunners: Joachim Trier’s poignant family saga Sentimental Value, Jafar Panahi’s intense revenge thriller It Was Just an Accident, Kleber Mendonça Filho’s politically charged The Secret Agent, and Óliver Laxe’s visually striking desert journey Sirât.
While the night’s glamour was briefly dimmed, the show ultimately went on—powered by resilience, determination, and a deep appreciation for cinema. As the spotlight returned to the red carpet, festivalgoers breathed a sigh of relief and turned their attention back to the silver screen.
