Bringing into limelight the lack of diversity and inclusion in the French film industry, 16 black actresses took to the red carpet in Cannes and staged a protest against racism, just days after 82 women, led by Cannes jury president Cate Blanchett, launched their own call for gender equality.
Led by actress Aissa Maiga, the group struck a defiant note while promoting a new book, "Noire N'est Pas Mon Metier" (My Profession is Not Black), reported Variety.
"It's a historic moment. It was beyond my wildest dreams. For 20 years, I've been acting, and I've never felt like this," Maiga said.
Besides Maiga, the group included Beausson-Diagne, Mata Gabin, Maimouna Gueye, Eye Haidara, Rachel Khan, Sara Martins, Marie-Philomene Nga, Sabine Pakora, Firmine Richard, Sonia Rolland, Magaajyia Silberfeld, Shirley Souagnon, Assa Sylla, Karidja Toure, and France Zobda.
Maiga stressed the importance of using the Cannes platform to "change structures in society" and the French movie industry, calling for funding mechanisms that will promote diversity in film so "that we start to see the real France on the screen."
"For me, the most important thing is that this collective of 16 women will become a movement," she said.
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