The Cannes Film Festival has always marched to the beat of its own drum. That’s what happens when the French event became the premier location to debut a film and a litmus test for what might be the best that the industry has to offer each year. And because of this power and prestige, the festival has been able to do things on its own terms, even when those things go against societal trends.
Last year, after an outcry from film fans and those in the industry about the lack of representation from female filmmakers at festivals, Cannes director Thierry Fremaux, along with representatives from other events, signed a pledge from the group 5050by2020. As the name suggests, the purpose of the group and the pledge is to strive for gender parity by 2020.
But according to Fremaux, that’s not something he’s interested in and not something that he feels like he should be asked to do.
“People ask Cannes to do things they don’t ask other festivals to do,” Fremaux said (via THR). “The Cannes Film Festival is asked to be impeccable and perfect. No one has asked me to have 50 percent of films made by women. That would show a lack of respect.”
However, during the press conference where he said those remarks, there was another issue that he seems to be supporting that goes against what many in the industry agree with. This year, Cannes is set to award French actor Alain Delon with an honorary Palme d’Or. This is after comments made by Delon about violence towards women and his support of far-right politicians.
“We’re not going to give the Nobel Peace Prize to Alain Delon,” Fremaux said. “He is entitled to express his views. Today it is very difficult to honor somebody because you have a sort of political police that falls on you.”
Knowing that his comments were going to cause a bit of controversy, the Cannes boss joked that the reporters missed an opportunity for some more quotes by asking about last year’s big debate – Netflix.
“You haven’t asked me about Netflix yet,” he said, “and now there isn’t time.”
The Cannes Film Festival begins tomorrow.