Cannes Film Festival Moves Dates For 2018

The Cannes Film Festival will start one day earlier than in previous years but will run for the same length of time, according to the organizers.

The 71st Festival de Cannes will begin on Tuesday, May 8, and run until the awards ceremony on Saturday, May 19.

Festival President Pierre Lescure said that he hoped the move would allow it to “rebalance” the two-week event and “bring new energy to the proceedings.”

“Following 2017’s anniversary edition, the festival is beginning a new period in its history,” he said. “We intend to renew the principles of our organization as much as possible, while continuing to question the cinema of our age and to be present through its upheavals.”

The organizers added: “What is more, starting on a Tuesday will allow us to hold an additional gala evening before the festival weekend and to organize previews of the opening film throughout France. Finally, bringing forward the announcement of awards by one day, to Saturday evening, will increase its prestige, while at the same time giving the closing film better exposure.”

The 2018 edition marks 50 years since civil unrest in France in May 1968 led to the festival being called off after some directors got together in solidarity with the striking workers and students around the country. The movement, which was led by Jean-Luc Godard and Francois Truffaut, led to the creation of the Directors’ Fortnight section the following year.