Cannes Blacked Out: Sabotage Suspected During Film Festival

Cannes Film Festival Disrupted by Widespread Power Outage A major power outage plunged the city of Cannes, France, into darkness on Saturday, May 24th, 2025, causing significant disruption to businesses and the ongoing Cannes Film Festival. Initial reports suggest the outage may have been caused by sabotage, with a fire reported at a local substation. The video shows scenes of darkened streets, closed shops, and frustrated residents and tourists. "It was chaos," said one eyewitness, a tourist from London, who was unable to reach her hotel due to transportation disruptions. "The streets were completely dark, and everyone was trying to figure out what was going on." The power outage affected an estimated 160,000 households, including the area surrounding the Cannes Film Festival. Despite the initial concerns, the festival's closing ceremony went ahead as scheduled, thanks to backup power sources. Authorities are investigating the cause of the fire and the subsequent power outage. The swift restoration of power demonstrates the resilience of Cannes and its infrastructure, ensuring the conclusion of the prestigious film festival.