With the Cannes Film Festival fast approaching, many memories will be jogged back to this time last year when rage kicked off about what many deemed as a sexist dress code. A group of women were denied entry into the premier of Todd Haynes’ Carol, for not wearing high-heeled shoes. Despite Cannes’ director, Thierry Fremaux, stating that heels were not obligatory, women were turned away for wearing flats, causing the festival to face international controversy. While many people may still have this at the back of their minds, the 69th festival seems to be showing hope for a more gender-balanced event.
The British film director, Andrea Arnold, is competing along with three other women for the Palme D’or. Up for competition is American Honey, her first film to be set and filmed in the US which follows the story of a young girl called Star, played by Sasha Lane with the appearance of Shia LaBeouf as Jake. Other competitors include German film director Maren Ade with Toni Erdmann, which she achieved success with at the Berlin film festival in 2009 as she won a Silver Bear with Everyone Else. French actress, director and screenwriter, Nicole Garcia, is another competitor with From the Land of the Moon, starring Oscar-winner Marion Cotillard.
Following her statement last month, “studios still see women as a risk and I’m not sure why”, Jodie Foster is making an appearance at Cannes for the premiere of her longly anticipated Money Monster, starring big names such as George Clooney and Julia Roberts as well as up and coming British gem and ex Skins actor Jack O’Connell.
Other women to look out for include French sisters Delpine and Muriel Coulin who are known better for their 2011 film, 17 Girls. Muriel states that “in cinema history, there are quite a lot of films made by brothers, but never any sisters, so I think we are kind of a premiere”, which is proving to be successful as they are in the Un Certain Regard section with See the World (Voir du Pays) at the 69th festival. Other competitors in the Un Certain Regard section include female Israeli filmmaker, Maha Haj, with Personal Affairs and French female director Stephanie Di Giusto with The Dancer.
So, despite the uproar of controversy following claims of the sexist dress code last year, it could be said that hope is being shown through the progression of female directors stealing the attention at this years festival. Let’s see what this year brings…
Words by Maisie Green