As an air of deja vu: with five female directors – in 21 films – in competition, the Cannes Film Festival is struggling to maintain its promise of equality. In question? An industry that is too masculine, defends the organizing team.
However, just like last year – which saw Frenchwoman Julia Ducournau win the highest award and become the second award -winning director in history – this 75th edition has no female directors, especially among parallel section.
They were five directors in the competition (against four last year) and allowed the Festival to reach its record: actress and director Valeria Bruni-Tedeschi, 57, will perform The Almond Treesabout the eponymous theater school founded by Patrice Chéreau.
Also running for the Palme d’Or, Claire Denis, 76, was included Noon starsshot in Central America.
Another Frenchwoman is running for top distinction: Léonor Serraille, born in 1986 and for whom it is the second film, then Girl. There is a right A little brotherit tells the story of an immigrant family from the late 1980s to the present.
A great figure in independent cinema, American Kelly Reichardt, 58, will perform Show upabout the daily life of an actress played by Michelle Williams.
Will also need to count on Belgian Charlotte Vandermeersch, 38, for The Eight Mountainsco-directed with Félix Van Groeningen.
Rare parity in film festivals
As for other major celebrations, the question of equality is also not obvious. In September, the Venice Film Festival selected, in competition, 5 films by female directors out of 21 films.
Only the Berlinale is better: for its edition in February 2022, 7 films out of 18 in the competition were produced by female directors.
As in Cannes, two women – the Frenchman Audrey Diwan and the Spaniard Carla Simon – have won prestigious prizes of these festivals.
Development
The Cannes Film Festival is not just about its Official Selection. So, at Critics ’Week, which highlights young directors, of the 11 feature films selected, 5 were directed by women, including Everyone loves Joanby Céline Devaux, with comedian Blanche Gardin.
The same goes for Directors ’Fortnight, where 11 female directors were selected, for a total of 23 films. Created by the Society of Film Directors in 1969, this section aims to explore the films of young authors and authors and salute the works of recognized filmmakers.
It will begin this year with the presentation of the traditional Carrosse d’or with Kelly Reichardt. Of the selected films, the long -awaited The Super-8 yearsthe first film by author Annie Ernaux, made with her son David, or the film by Mia Hansen-Løve A good morningwith Melvil Poupaud and Léa Seydoux.
If the Official Selection remains a weak link, on the jury side, equality of four women to nine members is more respected. Three times, women outperformed men (2009, 2014 and 2018).
Moreover, if the president of the jury, Vincent Lindon, was a man, the names of artists like Penélope Cruz would revolve around the last moment.
Added to this was the appointment as Festival President of jurist Iris Knobloch, who will replace Pierre Lescure in July. She will be the only woman to lead a big celebration.
As for similar sections, Ava Cahen took the lead this year at Critics ’Week.
Finally, the Festival gives pride of place to several films and documentaries that provoke topics related to women such as feminicides or access to abortion, where feminist response (A certain regard), by Marie Perennès and Simon Depardon, o holy spiderby Ali Abbasi (in competition).
Source: Radio-Canada
