With less than a week remaining until the start of the 81st Cannes Film Festival, anticipation is growing among French media regarding speculation of a potentially significant #MeToo revelation slated to emerge on the opening day.
For weeks, there has been ongoing discussion within the French film industry about the imminent release of a series of #MeToo allegations leading up to and during the forthcoming festival.
These rumors coincide with a recent resurgence of the #MeToo movement in France, catalyzed by actress and filmmaker Judith Godrèche‘s public revelation of sexual abuse she alleges occurred during her teenage years, involving director Benoît Jacquot, who has refuted the claims.
Speculation may ultimately prove unfounded, but a recent article by French newspaper Le Figaro titled “#MeToo: before the Cannes Film Festival, the cinema industry is in a cold sweat” has fueled intense gossip within the local community.
The investigative piece hinted at the possibility that approximately a dozen prominent figures in the French film industry could face public #MeToo accusations in the near future, although no names were disclosed.
According to Le Figaro, Cannes Film Festival president Iris Knobloch has enlisted the help of an undisclosed crisis management PR firm to prepare for any potential upheaval during the event.
The report outlined that Knobloch, a former Warner Bros executive and trained lawyer, is exercising heightened vigilance, with the festival team and crisis management firm devising strategies to address potential allegations on a case-by-case basis.
As of the time of inquiry, the Cannes Film Festival has not responded to a request for comment from Deadline.
It’s worth noting that the festival lacks an official protocol for handling guests accused of sexual harassment and abuse.
The Le Figaro article suggested that the festival may take measures such as removing films from competition or disinviting accused professionals from the red carpet, depending on the seriousness of the allegations.
While France’s César Academy implemented rules two years ago prohibiting individuals under official police investigation for acts of violence from attending its annual ceremony, the situation at Cannes could be more complex. Accusations might not be accompanied by formal police complaints, and even if they are, the festival must uphold the principle of presumption of innocence.
