The founder of the Festival died in 1971, after a heart attack -- some say because he could not understand why young people didn't respect him anymore (students were influenced by what happened in Paris in May 1968).
Paul Puaux continued Vilar's work. New venues, new directors and new styles were accepted in the Festival during the 1970's. During this period, a new Festival was born, the "Off" Festival. Companies that had not been invited to the official festival came to Avignon in July to grab the spectators eyeballs. Since then, the Official Festival is known as the "In". Both Festivals begin in mid-July and end in early August.