The 76th Cannes Film Festival will again be placed under high security this year, thanks to a thousand police, gendarmes and private security agents, with particular attention paid to possible "gatherings of people", against a backdrop of social tensions.
The festival (May 16-27), with its host of stars, the crowd trying to see them and 4500 accredited journalists is an "event categorized high level of security because we are in a department that has been a victim of terrorist acts and that drains a rather sensitive population, namely VIPs," explains to AFP Jean-Claude Geney, sub-prefect of Grasse, in charge of coordinating the security system. This year, the level of security "will be the same as last year. He is not increased because he was already at the cleat, "he adds.
In a tense social climate, faced with unions that have threatened to cut electricity during some major events, "special attention will be paid to possible gatherings of people," says the sub-prefect, who warns: "We may have additional sources of work compared to last year." On land, at sea or in the air, everything is done to ensure that no "false folds" occur, he continues.
To the police officers of the Departmental Directorate of Public Security and the gendarmes are added four companies of CRS, as well as "nearly 200 agents of the Cannes municipal police, which includes a canine brigade, an equestrian brigade and bikers present day and night," details the municipality of Cannes. For the duration of the festival, harrows and anti-intrusion bollards will be placed on the most sensitive areas, "operated and controlled" from the Urban Protection Center of the municipal police, which has 833 video surveillance cameras, "one for 88 inhabitants, the densest network of France," says the town hall.
" READ ALSO A palm of honor for Michael Douglas, star of the next Cannes Film Festival
Anti-drone warfare
The most closely watched perimeter is that of the Palais des Festivals, where the screenings take place and where Michael Douglas, Johnny Depp and Harrison Ford are expected, among others, with the world premiere on May 18 of the latest installment of the Indiana Jones saga. "Before each sensitive climb of the steps and systematically before each climb of the steps of 19:00, a perimeter is cordoned off, in which access and circulation are filtered," insists Mr. Geney.
The organizers have mandated eight private security companies that will hold 256 checkpoints for screening and surveillance inside the palace. Safety at sea is not forgotten with the mobilization of the stars of the Maritime Gendarmerie, "to avoid possible malicious acts from the sea, as was the case at the Cannes Lions show in June 2022," says the sub-prefect.
With a temporary overflight ban, air traffic control is reinforced thanks to helicopters and planes and anti-drone warfare, which allows gendarmes and police to take control of a drone and bring it back to its base. "Then to locate and arrest the offending pilot," says the sub-prefect.
But the festival is also many private parties organized on the beaches or in villas, which mobilize private security companies. Thus, on Magnum Beach, on the beach of the JW Marriott hotel, the international fame of the personalities welcomed, such as Bella Hadid, Kendall Jenner or Marion Cotillard, "imposes on us an extremely solid security device which, depending on the evening, mobilizes between 15 and 20 agents," explains Frédéric Henry, press manager of the brand.