Cannes Film Festival cannot be virtual

The director of the film festival in the French resort of Cannes does not think that there will be a virtual digital 35-cm alternative if the festival cannot continue due to the outbreak of the corona virus later this year.

Festival director Thierry Fremaux is pessimistic about Variety about this. “If our festival cannot be held physically, it will be canceled. Virtual is not an option. For Cannes, its soul, its history, its efficiency, it is a model that would not work. What is a digital festival? A digital contest ? ” Fremaux wonders.

“Wes Anderson or Paul Verhoeven movies on a computer? Discovering Top Gun 2 or Soul somewhere other than in a movie theater? The release of these movies has been delayed to be shown on a big screen. Why should we have them earlier, on a digital device, want to see? “says Fremaux.

The festival was originally scheduled for May but was delayed March 19 to summer. It was thought at the end of June, beginning of July. Fremaux wants to do everything possible to keep the festival going if it is justified. “If necessary in the autumn,” as far as he is concerned.

France is one of the hardest hit countries. Public life in the country has been flat for weeks. More than 10,000 people have died to date, and more than 109,000 French people have been infected with the coronavirus to date.