By Jake Coyle, Film Writer
NEW YORK (AP) --France's Cannes Film Festival, arguably the world's most prestigious film festival and cinema's largest annual gathering, has postponed its 73rd edition due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Organizers of the French Riviera festival, scheduled to take place May 12-23, said Thursday that they are considering moving the festival to the end of June or the beginning of July.
"Several hypotheses are being studied to preserve the festival, the main one of which would be a simple postponement," the festival said in a statement. "As soon as the development of the French and international health situation will allow us to assess the real possibility, we will make our decision known."
Organizers had been extremely reluctant to cancel Cannes. For weeks, its organizers deflected questions and tried to push through its selection process. But as the pandemic spread through France, it became all but inevitable that a massive gathering like Cannes would be canceled. On Saturday, France's Prime Minister Édouard Philippe ordered the closure of all restaurants, cafes and cinemas in France to increase social distancing and combat the virus.
Other major film festivals, including South by Southwest and the Tribeca Film Festival, have already been scuttled. But some hope held out that Cannes, taking place closer to summer, might yet survive.
Cannes has greater ramifications for the film industry, which annually convenes on the Cote d'Azur not just for the festival's gala screenings but for the world's largest movie market. Every year, countless production and distribution deals are hatched in Cannes. Film executives fly in from all over the world and gather at the Marche du Film in the basement of Cannes' hub, the Palais. Every country with a film industry erects a pavilion at Cannes' international village.
The postponement is also especially painful for Cannes since it's coming off a particularly successful 2019 edition. Though recent years have seen intensified criticism of the festival's gender inclusivity and increased competition from other festivals like the Venice Film Festival, the 2019 Cannes featured the eventual Oscar best picture winner, Bong Joon Ho's "Parasite," as well as Quentin Tarantino's "Once Upon a Time … in Hollywood," Pedro Almdovar's acclaimed "Pain & Glory" and Celine Sciamma's celebrated French drama "Portrait of a Lady on Fire." "Parasite" won Cannes' Palme d'Or before its Oscar victory.
But the international flavor of Cannes has worked against it this year. Because of the global spread of the novel coronavirus, even a virus-free France would have difficulty drawing — and keeping healthy — filmmakers, executives and press from around the world.
Cannes, founded in 1939 while Europe was on the cusp of war, has been altered by tumult before. It began as an alternative to the Venice Film Festival, which then had become under the sway of Benito Mussolini. Its inaugural festival was canceled after its opening gala, the premiere of "The Hunchback of Notre Dame." The next day, Germany invaded Poland.
Cannes also came to a stop, famously, in 1968. Then, filmmakers including Jean Luc-Godard, François Truffaut, Louis Malle and Roman Polanski took to the stage of the Palais to declare the festival over in solidarity with the student and labor strike coursing through France.
This time, Cannes hopes to stave off cancellation and return in the summer. The festival concluded its announcement: "A très bientôt" — "See you very soon."
Todd McIntosh and Peter Tothpal To Receive Life Achievement Honors At Make-Up and Hair Stylists Guild Awards
Todd McIntosh and Peter Tothpal will be honored with Lifetime Achievement Awards at the 12th Annual Make-Up Artists and Hair Stylists Guild Awards (MUAHS, IATSE Local 706). McIntosh is an Emmy®-winning make-up artist known for his work on “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” and “Memoirs of a Geisha.” Tothpal is an award-winning hair stylist known for his work on “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3” and “Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines.” The awards will be bestowed at the gala event on Sunday, February 15, 2025, at the Fairmont Century Plaza Hotel.
The MUAHS Lifetime Achievement Awards honor a make-up artist and a hair stylist who have an extraordinary spectrum of acclaimed work, exceptional contributions to the entertainment industry, and outstanding service to their union or their craft.
McIntosh, a multi-Emmy-winning Canadian make-up artist known for his transformative make-up designs, has worked on numerous critically acclaimed projects. He has won two Primetime Emmys and has 12 nominations. With over 30 years of experience in the industry, McIntosh has become a highly sought-after make-up artist, known for his attention to detail and ability to bring characters to life through his artistry.
Additional credits include “Masters of the Universe,” “Pushing Daisies,” “Griselda,” “Legion,” “The Kids are Alright,” “Venom,” “Dark Shadows,” “Star Trek: Enterprise,” “City Slickers (I & II),” “The Brady Bunch Movie,” “Mr. Saturday Night,” “Look Who’s Talking (1 & 2),” “The Clan of the Cave Bear,” and dozens of others.
Tothpal, an award-winning journeyman hair stylist, has had a spectacular and varied career encompassing every facet of filmmaking. From the largest high-profile... Read More