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Cannes Diary 2015: Not only about films, much talk on rights too

The seventh day of the 68th Cannes Film Festival was not just about films and style. The much talked-about event came under fire after several women were reportedly turned away from the red carpet screenings for wearing flat shoes instead of heels, which was apparently a part of the dress code.

Updated on: May 21, 2015, 19:02:49 IST
Hindustan Times | By , Cannes
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The seventh day of the 68th Cannes Film Festival was not just about films and style. The much talked-about event came under fire after several women were reportedly turned away from the red carpet screenings for wearing flat shoes instead of heels, which was apparently a part of the dress code.

When British actor Emily Blunt was asked about the controversy at a press conference, she said that she found the discrimination ridiculous. "Everyone should wear flats, to be honest. That's very disappointing, just when you think there are these new waves of equality," she said. But, the film festival's director Thierry Fremaux later tweeted that the rumours were untrue. "For the stairs, the regulations have not changed: 'No smoking, formal wear'. There is no mention of heels," he posted.

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The-dust-up-is-particularly-awkward-for-Cannes-because-this-year-s-festival-has-been-marked-by-considerable-discussion-about-gender-equality-in-the-movie-industry-festival-cannes-com

Meanwhile, the day saw the screening of the crime film, Sicario, starring Blunt, and actors Benicio Del Toro and Josh Brolin. The film was appreciated, with Del Toro getting applause from the audience afterwards. Indian film, Masaan, starring actors Richa Chaddha, Shweta Tripathi and Vicky Kaushal, was also screened at the film festival.

Following the screenings, several celebs attended a party that celebrated women in films. The bash, however, received mixed reactions from the guests. Actor Rachel Weisz was "very sad" that such events happen. "We make up 51% of planet earth and we're disproportionately represented, in terms of directors and writers - people in charge of storytelling," she was quoted as telling a British TV channel.

  • Anupama Chopra
    ABOUT THE AUTHOR
    Anupama Chopra

    Anupama Chopra is the editor and founder of Film Companion.

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