Cannes Film Festival 2021 has been postponed until July

The event, which was cancelled in 2020, has been pushed from May in hopes of having an in-person festival

The Festival de Cannes, initially scheduled for May 2021, will now take place in July. EPA

The Cannes Film Festival has been postponed from May to July, in hopes of having an in-person event.

Organisers announced on Wednesday that this year's festival will now take place from July 6 to July 17, about two months after its typical period.

The French Riviera festival, which had run for nearly 75 years with few interruptions until 2020, is currently hoping the coronavirus recedes enough by summertime for a full festival to happen.

Cannes last year first looked at postponing its 73rd festival to June or July, before ultimately cancelling altogether. The festival still went ahead with a selection announcement to celebrate the films it had planned to include in its prestigious line-up.

In 2021, organisers are intent on having a festival, one way or another. No details were announced on Wednesday, however, on what its event might look like this year.

If Cannes were to go forward with attendees in cinemas in July, it would be the first major in-person film festival to do so since the Venice Film Festival in September, which saw masked cinemagoers and social distancing on red carpets.

On Thursday, independent film festival Sundance launches with virtual screenings and drive-in events scattered around the US. The Berlin International Film Festival, scheduled for March in Germany, is also planning a virtual event.

During the pandemic, Cannes's central hub, the Palais des Festivals, has been used for hospital beds and, more recently, as a vaccination centre.

See the best dressed stars from Cannes Film Festival 2019:

Aishwarya Rai looked like a real-life princess in a Michael Cinco gown at the 'Okja' premiere at the 2017 Cannes Film Festival. EPA

Jury President Cate Blanchett wore custom-made Mary Katrantzou to the screening of 'Cold War (Zimna Wojna)' during the 2018 Cannes Film Festival. When the designer saw the look on the red carpet, she was so happy, she cried. Getty

Fan Bingbing looked delightful in this delicate, flowered Marchesa gown, with headdress, at Cannes in 2015. EPA

Breaking the mould, Nadine Labaki wore a masculine suit and T-shirt to collect her ACC Best Director award in Cannes in 2019. Reuters

Aishwarya Rai looked like a golden mermaid in Roberto Cavalli at the 'Two Days, One Night' premiere during the 2014 Cannes Film Festival. Getty

Eva Longoria wore a long trained Marchesa gown in 2012. EPA

Sonam Kapoor visited the 2016 Cannes Film Festival wearing all-white Ralph & Russo. EPA

In flounced Giambattista Valli, Deepika Padukone arrives for the screening of 'Dolor y Gloria' during the 2019 Cannes Film Festival. EPA

Showing true French style, Marion Cotillard wore this Chanel two-piece to the 2019 Cannes Film Festival. TPX IMA

For the 2013 premiere of 'Blood Ties', Zoe Saldana wore an embroidered Valentino gown. EPA

Amal Clooney and her husband, George, at the 'Money Monster' premiere during the 2016 Cannes Film Festival. She wore an asymmetric Atelier Versace gown in palest cream. Getty Images

The original Cannes starlet, Brigitte Bardot, on the beach in the 1950s.

'Amelie' actress Audrey Tautou wore a cocktail dress and bolero jacket to the festival in 2006. EPA

In 2012, Fan Bingbing wore this heavily embroidered gown by Christopher Bu to dramatic effect. EPA

Wearing feather-trimmed Elie Saab, actress Naomi Watts in 2015. EPA

In protest to the 'no flat shoes' rule that Cannes imposed on women, Julia Roberts famously went barefoot in 2016. EPA

Elle Fanning wore a hand-painted Vivienne Westwood couture gown to Cannes in 2017. EPA

In 2011, Salma Hayek wore a strapless grey Gucci gown. EPA

Looking immaculate in red, Kristen Stewart donned a Reem Acra gown during the 2012 Cannes Film Festival. EPA

To the 2008 amfAR event at Cannes, Natalie Portman wore a sculpted Givenchy dress. EPA

For the 2012 Cannes festival, Tilda Swinton wore copper Haider Ackermann. EPA

In 2001, Laetitia Casta broke all the rules and wore a vintage silk kimono. EPA

Uma Thurman wore a feather-fringed Versace gown to the 2011 Cannes Film Festival. EPA

Olivia Palermo wore a golden Roberto Cavalli gown and jacket in 2013. EPA

Model-turned-actress Cara Delevingne wore lace-panelled Burberry on the red carpet in 2013. EPA

The late Princess Diana wore a pale blue Catherine Walker gown in homage to the actress Grace Kelly in 1987. EPA

A heavily pregnant Angelina Jolie wore an olive green Max Azria gown to the 'Kung Fu Panda' premiere during the 2008 Cannes Film Festival. Getty

Emma Watson looked elegant in Chanel Haute Couture in 2013. EPA

Model Linda Evangelista shimmered in Lanvin in 2008. EPA

In 2009, Angelina Jolie wore a nude Atelier Versace gown. EPA

Jury member Diane Kruger wore Christian Dior haute couture to the Closing Ceremony during the 2012 Cannes Film Festival. Getty

Actress Zhang Ziyi in metallic Givenchy at the premiere of 'La Belle Epoque' at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival. AP

Charlize Theron donned a chic masculine suit to the screening of 'The Last Face' at the 2016 Cannes Film Festival. AFP

Elle Fanning wore Christian Dior to the screening of 'Once Upon A Time... In Hollywood' during the 2019 Cannes Film Festival. EPA

A feathered, all-white look by Ashi Studio, worn by Aishwarya Rai during the 2019 Cannes Film Festival. EPA

Actress Isabelle Huppert in sequinned Armani Prive at the screening of 'Frankie' during the 2019 Cannes Film Festival. EPA

Jasmine Tookes wore this magnificent yellow gown by Georges Chakra at the Cinema Against Aids amfAR gala in 2019. EPA

Helen Mirren in beaded Elie Saab at the screening of 'Les Plus Belles Annees d'une Vie' during the 2019 Cannes Film Festival. EPA

In matching white, Priyanka Chopra, in Georges Hobeika, and Nick Jonas attend the screening of 'Les Plus Belles Annees D'Une Vie' during the 2019 Cannes Film Festival. Getty

Model Winnie Harlow donned this spectacular green gown at the screening of 'BlacKkKlansman' during the 2018 Cannes Film Festival. EPA