Cannes filmfest calls off side events for COVID-19

The 2020 edition of the Cannes Film Festival in France has canceled parallel events over the coronavirus pandemic.

The annual event that is among the most prestigious film events around the world has called off its Directors’ Fortnight (Quinzaine des Realisateurs) and International Critics’ Week (Semaine de la Critique) in the shadow of the current global crisis.

This cancellation is not the only modification that has been applied to the 73rd edition of the French gala.

Earlier this month, the official website for the fest had announced a possible postponement of the event until the end of this June.

This delay does not seem so much plausible right now and the event has finally admitted to the media recently that the festival will not be held this summer.

The International Critics’ Week is the oldest non-competitive section of the Cannes filmfest.

It is a platform for first and second feature films by directors from all over the world.

The Directors' Fortnight is an independent event that runs alongside of the French event and gives screening chances to short, feature films and documentaries by filmmakers from around the world.

Coronavirus appeared first in the Chinese city of Wuhan in December and has since spread globally.

The World Health Organization has declared it a global health emergency.

AA/MG