A press screening of Pedro Almodóvar’s “Bitter Christmas” in Cannes on Tuesday night was temporarily canceled due to a medical emergency, Variety has confirmed. Cannes’ press office said the screening at the Théâtre Bazin in the Palais was temporarily suspended to allow emergency services to assist the person.
A statement from the festival said: “During the press screening of ‘Bitter Christmas’ at the Bazin Theater on Tuesday night, an individual suffered a medical emergency. The screening was immediately interrupted and the theater was evacuated so that emergency services could assist them. The individual remained conscious and responsive before being transported to hospital for further treatment. Once the intervention was complete, the screening resumed at the beginning of the film.”
According to Deadline, an elderly person collapsed in his seat about 15 minutes into the screening. Theater ushers asked attendees to leave the theater, and the movie restarted from the beginning after the man was taken to the hospital.
Press screenings are traditionally held at the Théâtre Bazin in the Palais. Mr. Almodovar was present during the simultaneous premiere of the film at the Grand Teatro Lumière.
Bitter Christmas, described as a tragic comedy, stars Barbara Rennie, Leonardo Sbarraria, and Aitana Sánchez-Gijon, who appeared on the red carpet with the director along with Patrick Criado and Victoria Luengo. After being released in Spanish theaters in March, it was acquired by Sony Pictures Classics for U.S. distribution. Although Almodovar’s film did not make its world premiere at Cannes, it is in competition at the Cannes Film Festival’s Official Selection.
