The president of the Cannes film festival has said that the 2020 edition will be cancelled if the coronavirus outbreak worsens but at present he is “reasonably optimistic” it will go ahead.
The festival, which is due to start on 12 May, is expected to attract about 40,000 attendees, including delegates to the film market that operates alongside the screening schedule.
As recently as Monday a spokesperson for Europe’s premier film event said it would go ahead as planned.
“The endowment fund that we have set up allows us to face at least one year without revenue.”