As with many other events, the Cannes Film Festival is no exception to the rule of highlights and committed speeches. On the occasion of the day dedicated to "women of cinema", this Saturday, May 12, Cate Blanchett and Agnès Varda took advantage of a climb of the steps under the spotlight to carry a strong message: that of gender equality.
In all, there were 82. Symbol of some 82 films directed by women and selected in competition for the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival since its creation in 1946. Their demands, clear and assumed, were read in English by the president of the Jury and in French by the director at the head of the movement:
"Women are not a minority in the world and yet our industry says otherwise. We want that to change."
Fighting wage inequality
These women denounce, among other things, wage inequality in the 7th art:
"We challenge our institutions to actively organize parity and transparency in decision-making bodies and wherever selections are made. We challenge our governments and governments to enforce equal pay laws. We demand equity and real diversity in our professional environments."
They also recall that the prestigious Palme d'Or has only been awarded to 2 female directors in recent years (Jane Campion for The Piano Lesson, and Agnès Varda), against 71 directors.
Equal pay, equity, diversity… so many themes that Agnès Varda and Cate Blanchett address in their joint speech on the steps of the Palais des Festivals!
🎬 Live #Cannes2018 on @canalplus > https://t.co/QEBXL3dUmw pic.twitter.com/ogTJSTCdt0
— cinemacanalplus (@cinemacanalplus) May 12, 2018
An unprecedented event in the history of the festival. It included Léa Seydoux, Claudia Cardinale, Julie Gayet, Salma Hayek, Marion Cotillard and many other actresses, producers, editors, decorators, distributors, hand in hand in front of the cameras.
A beautiful image that will undoubtedly be one of the highlights of this 71st edition of the Cannes Film Festival.
