INDUSTRY NEWS: Gender equality movement in the French film industry

In an aim to bring out equality across France's film industry, almost 300 professionals have signed up to a new movement that launched on the evening of France's prestigious Cesar awards: Collectif 5050x2020.

The movement's spokesperson, co-founder and film sales executive Berenice Vincent stated that their goal was to 'put in place concrete steps to bring about equality across the business'.

This movement sits amongst many other gender equality campaigns that have emerged in the film industry amidst the on-going reflection on female representation in cinema sparked by the anti-sexual harassment movement #MeToo.

The movement launches, however, against a complicated backdrop in France, where there has been a mixed response within the film industry and beyond to the related issues of sexual harassment and gender inequality in the cinema business

“In spite of the shockwave of #MeToo, French cinema has not really been shaken by the Weinstein affair, and nothing concrete has come out of it. It’s raised awareness of inequalities, but our expectations are for this to go further and for speeches to be joined by actions,” explained Vincent.

Vincent said the collective would act as an “action think tank” that would “create tools” aimed at changing present day thinking as well as put pressure on public institutions and the private section to make structural changes fostering gender equality.

Artistic figures joining the movement include directors Catherine Corsini, Justine Triet, Valérie Donzelli, Virginie Despentes, Robin Campillo, Jacques Audiard, Laurent Cantet, Bertrand Bonello, Thomas Cailley and Houda Benyamina as well as actresses Léa Seydoux, Lily-Rose Depp, Clemence Poésy, Virginie Efira and Natacha Regnier.