Cannes Film Festival to create sexual harassment hotline

IANS  |  Cannes 

A helpline for women to report at the Film Festival will be set up following four alleged attacks at the event in the past by Harvey Weinstein, the disgraced Hollywood movie

Marlene Schiappa, France's gender equality minister, said industry grandees would be warned to watch their behaviour when they arrive at the world's most prestigious film festival, which takes place in the Riviera resort next month, reports telegraph.co.uk.

"We've gone into partnership with the Film Festival to tackle and set up a helpline," Schiappa said.

"One of the rapes that is accused of happened at Cannes, and so the festival cannot fail to act."

She said the measures were aimed at protecting not only actresses but all women working in or around the film industry.

The festival has come under fire in the past for alleged sexism, notably over the obligation for women to wear high-heeled shoes on the red carpet.

Weinstein is accused of four sexual assaults at in recent years including the alleged rape of a 21-year-old Italian

With the #MeToo movement in the headlines, the film festival organisers face heightened scrutiny over the role of women at the festival, which runs from May 8-19.

--IANS

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First Published: Sat, April 28 2018. 13:58 IST