No more selfies on the red carpet
The Cannes Film Festival has decided to ban selfies in the glamorous parades on the red carpet that precede the screening of the most anticipated films of each edition, announced its delegate general, Thierry Fremaux. Three years ago, Fremaux publicly requested that stars and guests who passed through the red carpet not join this "extremely ridiculous and grotesque" custom, which also slowed down the strict schedule of the organization.
Fremaux regretted that those who passed by the carpet stopped every two meters "to take a picture of themselves", but since his recommendation did not have the desired effect, now he has decided to prohibit this practice, according to the person in charge of Cannes in an interview published by the magazine "Le Film Français". Together with Pierre Lescure (president of the festival), the general delegate of Cannes has decided to ban selfies. "On the red carpet, the triviality and the slowdown caused by the disorder that originates the practice of selfies damages the quality of the climb of the stairs and, therefore, the festival as a whole," explains the head of Cannes.
Hence, in this 71st edition of the most famous event in the world, which will be held from May 8 to 19, the usual guest scene can no longer be repeated by taking a selfie while the flashes of the accredited photographers multiply. An edition that will have more news, as the advance of its start in a day (on Tuesday) so that the awards are delivered on Saturday and not on Sunday as before, which will give more visibility to the gala. And that will also eliminate the passes for the press and public before the premiere of the films at night, so that this gala screening, preceded by the parade through the red carpet, is the world premiere of the film. "Thus the suspense will be total," says Fremaux.
Small changes in a festival that has been running for seven decades as a well-oiled machine but that is adapting to the times. In this process of adaptation, Cannes also foresees new initiatives in the framework of the global movement of equality between women and men in the world of cinema promoted by "#MeToo" and "Time's Up". Those responsible for the festival will meet with the Secretary of State for Equality of France, Marlène Schiappa.
"Cannes is vigilant and active" on this issue, according to Fremaux, who pointed out that to the "Women in Motion" debate forum that began four years ago, the festival will add other things because "the biggest festival in the world should be exemplary". On the selection of films made by women, Fremaux stressed that Cannes is above average, with 23 percent of women in the official selection of 2017, and recalled that this year the president of the jury will be the Australian actress Cate Blanchett.