Cannes on high alert ahead of film festival opening

Security at the Cannesfilm festival, which opens on Wednesday, will be intense asFrance is still facing a high risk of attack, French InteriorMinister Bernard Cazeneuve said on Monday.

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

France has been under a state of emergency since attacksclaimed by the Islamic State or Iraq and Syria (ISIS)killed 130 people in November atentertainment venues in and around Paris including the Bataclanconcerthall, cafes and the Stade deFrance stadium.

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

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

For this year's event,Cannes Mayor DavidLisnardhaswarned that police will be carrying out random searches of people on the street, theHollywood Reporter said Monday.

France has already announced plans to extend the state ofemergency to cover the Euro 2016 soccer tournament that beginsnext month and announced stricter security for venues.

• Xavier Dolan in official competition for Cannes Film Festival
• Montreal directorFranoisJarosgoing to Cannes with short film
• Nova Scotia filmmaker Leah Johnston heads to Cannes Film Festival

In 1978, French authorities thwarted an attack on the filmfestival when they discovered a bomb on the Palais des Festivalsstage.

Woody Allen's Cafe Societyopens the 69th edition of thefestival on Wednesday.