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With 45,000 people expected to visit the May 11-22 event,
French authorities are on high alert with some 400 security
agents, hundreds of police deployed and special forces ready to
intervene, Cazeneuve told a news conference.
France has been under a state of emergency since attacks claimed
by Islamic State killed 130 people in November at entertainment
venues in and around Paris including a concert hall, cafes and
the Stade the France stadium.
"As we are about to open this festival and as I come here to
check the security protocol, we are ... facing a risk that is
higher than ever," Cazeneuve said.
"And against an enemy who is determined to strike at any time,
we must be extremely vigilant at all times."
France has already announced plans to extend the state of
emergency to cover the Euro 2016 soccer tournament that begins
next month and announced stricter security for venues.
In 1978, French authorities thwarted an attack on the film
festival when they discovered a bomb on the Palais des Festivals
stage.
Woody Allen's "Cafe Society" opens the 69th edition of the
festival on Wednesday.
(Reporting by Hortense de Roffignac, Mike Davidson and Julien
Pretot; Editing by Alison Williams)
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