In an interview with Paris Match, published this Thursday, May 9, the president of the Cannes Festival, Iris Knobloch, ensures that she is “monitoring the situation closely” following rumors about the possible publication of a list of personalities from French cinema, involved or accused in sexual assault cases.
If a film personality present at the Cannes Film Festival, which begins this Tuesday, May 14, was accused of sexual assault, “we would make sure to make the right decision on a case-by-case basis […] but we would also talk about (his) work”indicated its president to Paris Match this Thursday, May 9.
The work, the real star
“We are extremely attentive to what is happening today, we are monitoring the situation closely”assures Iris Knobloch in an interview with the weekly, while social networks, on which a list of leading personalities circulates, and the media are buzzing with rumors of accusations during the Festival, which will end on May 25.
“If the case of an accused person arises, we will ensure that we make the right decision on a case-by-case basis, in consultation with the board of directors and stakeholders”she continues. “But we would also discuss the work to see what is best for her. She is the real star.”
The word relaunched by Judith Godrèche
Seven years after the start of #MeToo, the subject remains on everyone’s minds, in the United States, where one of the convictions of producer Harvey Weinstein has just been annulled, as in France, between the trial of actor Gérard Depardieu in October and the freedom of speech movement relaunched by Judith Godrèche.
The actress, who accuses two figures of auteur cinema, Benoît Jacquot and Jacques Doillon, of rape, will present “Me Too”, the 17-minute short film she directed on the subject of sexual violence, in Cannes on May 15. The Festival indicated in a press release that it wished with this screening “make these testimonies resonate”.
Advancing the presence of women
In this interview, Iris Knobloch also repeats that “the progression of the presence of women” is one of the main issues for Cannes, while 4 of the 22 films in competition and 20% of the films in the official selection were directed by women.
However, she does not support the establishment of quotas, “double-edged”. “We must not create a feeling of illegitimacy for a woman”she pleads.
She adds to note “a very clear increase in the submission of projects from female directors […] But the Festival must remain in its role and base itself only on the quality of the film.”.
