French actress Judith Godreche attends the International Women’s Day event at Paris City Hall. Godreche’s short film “Moi Aussie” will screen at the 77th Cannes Film Festival. , Photo Credit: Louise Joly

The Cannes Film Festival is facing tension this year as the industry potentially grapples with the MeToo allegations. The 77th edition of the French Film Festival opens tomorrow against a backdrop of global unrest, with protests, war and the burgeoning #MeToo movement in France setting the stage for what’s to come.

The charge is being led by French director and actor Judith Godreche, who earlier this year came forward with allegations against filmmakers Benoit Jacquot and Jacques Doillon, alleging that they sexually assaulted her during her teenage years . The allegations made by both Jacquot and Doillon have been strongly denied, sending shock waves through the industry and sparking conversations about systemic abuse and the need for accountability.

“I hope I’m heard in the sense that I’m not interested in representing someone who wants to go after everyone else in this industry,” Godreche said before the festival. “I’m just fighting for some kind of change. This is called revolution.”

Godrecht’s activism culminated in the creation of Me too, a short film premiered in the Un Certain Regard section of Cannes. Based on the testimonials of several women, the film serves as a reminder of the widespread nature of abuse within the film industry and society at large.

Godreche commented, “For me, having these faces, these people – everyone in this movie – gives them this space to celebrate.” “The thing about this place is that it has a lot of history. In a way, this is what makes movies forever mysterious. Once your film was in Cannes, it was in Cannes”, he said.

Rumors are spreading in France about a secret list, containing the names of ten influential men in the industry allegedly implicated in abusive behavior towards women, causing unease.

french newspaper le figaroA recent article, titled “#MeToo: Anxiety Grips Cannes Film Festival”, has sparked intense speculation in the local film industry. Reports suggest that several prominent French directors, actors and producers may soon face public #MeToo allegations.

Cannes Film Festival president Iris Knobloch has reportedly enlisted a crisis management PR firm to prepare for the potential fallout. Although the festival lacks official protocols for dealing with sexual harassment allegations, it may consider removing films from competition or removing accused individuals from the red carpet, depending on the severity of the allegations.

Unlike the Caesar Academy, which bans professionals from subjecting themselves to official police investigation, Cannes faces a challenge because allegations may lack formal complaints, which requires adherence to the presumption of innocence.