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CANNES

Million-euro reward for return of Cannes jewels

A €1 million reward has been offered up for any information that will lead to the return of €103 million worth of jewellery stolen from the Riviera resort of Cannes last month. The offer is subject to certain conditions, however.

Million-euro reward for return of Cannes jewels
French police outside the Carlton Hotel after the €103 million jewellery heist. Photo: Valery Hache/AFP

Insurers Lloyd's of London on Tuesday offered up to €1 million ($1.3m) for information leading to the recovery of jewels stolen from a Cannes hotel last month worth an estimated €103 million.

"A reward of up to 1,000,000 euros pro rata is offered to the first person who provides information which leads to recovery of the goods. Offer subject to certain conditions," said the insurer in a statement.

On July 28th, an armed man pulled off a brazen heist in broad daylight at the luxury Carlton Hotel on the promenade of the French Riviera resort, in one of the world's biggest jewellery thefts.

Brandishing a semi-automatic pistol, his head covered with a cloth, the robber stole jewels that were part of an exhibition by a group owned by Israeli billionaire Lev Leviev.

Authorities said he escaped with "all kinds of different" jewellery, including "rings, pendants, and earrings encrusted with diamonds."

The exhibition was held in a wing of the hotel with direct access to the street and police said they had not been alerted that it was taking place.

Prosecutors said the robber entered the exhibition room through a French window that opened onto a terrace, which itself looks onto the popular Croisette avenue in Cannes.

Lloyd's said in a statement that "persons with specific information should contact SW Associates on +33 610950564 between 18h00-19h00 or send an email to [email protected]."

Cannes has fallen prey to thieves several times recently, notably during this year's film festival, which attracts a glittering array of celebrities from the movie world.

In a pre-dawn heist at a hotel during the festival in May, thieves stole jewellery worth $1.4 million due to be loaned to movie stars.

That robbery took place in the hotel room of an American employee of Swiss jeweller Chopard while she was out for the evening, police said.

In a scene straight from a Hollywood film, a strongbox containing jewels was ripped out of the wardrobe and carried off, they said.

In a second theft during the festival, robbers made off with a diamond necklace with an estimated value of $1.9 million.

At least two apartments rented by film executives were also burgled during the 2013 festival, with thieves taking cash, jewellery and other personal items.

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FILM

Cannes Film Festival postponed to July due to Covid

The Cannes Film Festival has been rescheduled for July 6th to 17th - postponed by around two months due to the ongoing virus crisis, organisers said on Wednesday.

Cannes Film Festival postponed to July due to Covid
The 2018 Palme d'Or winner Japanese director Hirokazu Kore-Eda posing for the cameras at the Cannes Film Festival, is an annual highlight for movie lovers in France. Photo: AFP

“As announced last autumn, the Festival de Cannes reserved the right to change its dates depending on how the global health situation developed,” they said in a statement.

“Initially scheduled from 11th to 22nd May 2021, the Festival will therefore now take place from Tuesday 6th to Saturday 17th July 2021.”

The festival was cancelled last year, while rival European events in Berlin and Venice went ahead under strict health restrictions.

The Berlin Film Festival, which usually kicks off in February, said last month it would run this year's edition in two stages, an online offering for industry professionals in March and a public event in June.

France has closed all cinemas, theatres and show rooms alongside cafés, bars and restaurants as part of its Covid-19 health measures and the government has pushed back their reopening date until further notice due to rising levels of viral spread across the country.

The Cannes festival normally attracts some 45,000 people with official accreditations, of whom around 4,500 are journalists.

It had only been cancelled once before, due to the outbreak of war in 1939.

Its Film Market, held alongside the main competition, is the industry's biggest marketplace for producers, distributors, buyers and programmers.

Last year, the festival still made an official selection of 56 films – including the latest offerings from Wes Anderson, Francois Ozon and Steve McQueen – allowing them to use the “Cannes official selection” label.

 

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