There was panic at Variety’s Cannes Film Festival party Wednesday when guests at a star-studded party heard the “crunch of metal” and felt the space shake “violently.”
“It was so f–king terrifying,” says a guest who scrambled to evacuate the event at La Terrasse by Albane on the JW Marriott rooftop. Diane Kruger, Jordana Brewster, Cannes director Thierry Frémaux and numerous high-powered film executives were at the bash.
“We are standing there having a drink and talking to people, when suddenly there was a loud noise, like breaking metal. It’s so specific. A crunch of metal,” the frightened partygoer told us.
They continued, “The whole thing shook violently three or four times. Everyone just f–king freaked out and was scrambling to get out and leave. It was panicked and crazy … People were shoving at the beginning, drinks were being spilled. No one made an announcement. Everyone was equally scared.”
Another party guest tells us, “It was like an earthquake the way the floor shook. The first thing I did was grab my two friends and say, ‘We are getting out of here.'”
Another source tells us the issue was not the roof, but a temporary structure — which we hear was allegedly built by the hotel for numerous events — collapsing.
“There were risers in a seating area built into a VIP section,” says another source at the bash. “They were made of plywood and they cracked and collapsed. No one was hurt, but everyone thought the roof was coming down so everyone lost their minds.”
Even in the panic some kept a level head, with a source telling us that some chic guests grabbed “three or four gift bags on the way out of Christian Louboutin beauty.”
A source says the bash even continued after the incident.
A source who continued to rage told Page Six, “Everything is fine… No one was in danger. The party was moved to the other side of the roof. There is music and drinking and people are having a good time. This is one of those crazy Cannes experiences.”
A rep for Variety tells us, “Most importantly, we are very relieved no one was injured.”
Page Six has reached out to the JW Marriott Cannes for comment.
The event was a welcome bash to kick off the festival which has already seen stars like Demi Moore and Jane Fonda walk the red carpet at Le Palais.
