Cannes on high alert ahead of film festival opening

Security at the Cannes film festival, which opens on Wednesday, will be intense as France is still facing a high risk of attack, French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said on Monday.

Interior minister in town to brief festival organizers on security measures

Thomson Reuters · Posted: May 09, 2016 3:18 PM EDT | Last Updated: May 9, 2016

France's Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve, centre, shakes hand with Cannes Film festival president Pierre Lescure, right, next to Cannes Film festival general delegate Thierry Fremaux, left, during a visit on security before the start of the 69th Cannes Film Festival, in Cannes on Monday. (Thibault Camus/Associated Press)

Security at the Cannes film festival, which opens on Wednesday, will be intense as France is still facing a high risk of attack, French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said on Monday.

A member of the bomb disposal squad of the French gendarmerie went to work on April 21 during a mock attack exercise in front of the Palais des Festivals as part of the security measures set for the film festival. (Valery Hache/AFP/Getty Images)

With 45,000 people expected to visit the May 11-22 event, French authorities are on high alert with some 400 security agents, hundreds of police deployed and special forces ready to intervene, Cazeneuve told a news conference.

A-listers in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cannes?src=hash">#Cannes</a>? <a href="https://twitter.com/blakelively">@blakelively</a> sets the standard in airport chic <a href="https://twitter.com/voguemagazine">@voguemagazine</a> <a href="https://t.co/qQV5fE9OCz">https://t.co/qQV5fE9OCz</a> <a href="https://t.co/eTcoxwbEtH">pic.twitter.com/eTcoxwbEtH</a>
—@edwardbarsamian

France has been under a state of emergency since attacks claimed by the Islamic State or Iraq and Syria (ISIS) killed 130 people in November at entertainment venues in and around Paris including the Bataclan concert hall, cafes and the Stade de France stadium.

"As we are about to open this festival and as I come here to check the security protocol, we are ... facing a risk that is higher than ever," Cazeneuve said.

"And against an enemy who is determined to strike at any time, we must be extremely vigilant at all times."

Workers place the official banner on the Palais de Festival during preparations for the 68th international film festival in Cannes in southern France on Monday. The festival runs May 11-22. (Thibault Camus/Associated Press)

For this year's event, Cannes Mayor David Lisnard has warned that police will be carrying out random searches of people on the street, the Hollywood Reporter said Monday.

France has already announced plans to extend the state of emergency to cover the Euro 2016 soccer tournament that begins next month and announced stricter security for venues.

In 1978, French authorities thwarted an attack on the film festival when they discovered a bomb on the Palais des Festivals stage.

Woody Allen's Cafe Society opens the 69th edition of the festival on Wednesday.

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