MIPCOM going ahead despite flooding

MIPCOM organiser Reed MIDEM has confirmed the event will open on time tomorrow morning, after severe flash flooding sent the French Riviera into chaos.

Around 16 people are believed to have died around the region after heavy rain yesterday evening, with the streets near the Croisette beach front in Cannes flooded.

Many delegates were trapped in restaurants and bars while the rain hammered down, with some later wading through the water to get home. The mayor of Cannes was quoted as saying cars had been washed to sea, and that people needed to be vigilant of looting.

The video below was posted to YouTube hours after the rain subsided around midnight.

MIPJunior has been severely affected, with all conference sessions today moved to the Palais des Festivals from the Martinez Hotel, which has lost some power in the hotel lobby. Flood damage also put pay to the screenings room, with Reed MIDEM working to give buyers online access to programmes “as soon as possible”.

However, MIPCOM will launch on time tomorrow (October 5), with the pre-opening screening of Sony Pictures Television’s new series The Art of More taking place this evening as scheduled.

There has been some flooding in the lower levels of the Palais, but Reed MIDEM director of television Laurine Garaude said: “The whole MIP team, the Palais staff and our Cannes partners are working non-stop to limit the disruption caused by this exceptional situation.”

The flooding has also disrupted train services into Cannes, meaning delegates may need to find alternative routes into town.