A Tuesday evening press screening in Cannes of Pedro Almodovar‘s “Bitter Christmas” was temporarily evacuated after a medical emergency, Variety has confirmed. The screening in the Bazin theater in the Palais was paused so emergency services could assist the person, according to the Cannes press office.
The festival’s statement said, “A person suffered a medical emergency on Tuesday evening during the press screening of ‘Bitter Christmas,’in the Bazin theater. The screening was immediately interrupted, and the theater evacuated to allow emergency services to assist them. The person was conscious and responsive before being transported to the hospital for further medical care. Once the intervention was completed, the screening resumed from the beginning of the film..”
About 15 minutes into the screening, an elderly person collapsed in their seat, according to Deadline. The theater ushers asked attendees to leave the theater and the film restarted from the beginning after the person was transported to the hospital.
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The Bazin theater in the Palais traditionally hosts the press screenings. Almodovar was present while the premiere of the film was unspooling simultaneously in the Grand Theater Lumiere.
“Bitter Christmas,” described as a tragic comedy, stars Barbara Lennie, Leonardo Sbaraglia and Aitana Sanchez-Gijon. It was acquired by Sony Pictures Classics for U.S. distribution after opening in Spanish theaters in March.