EPA
ANNOUNCEMENTS•
The organization of France’s top film awards, the Césars, will ban people suspected of sexual assault or other sexually transgressive behavior from the awards ceremony at the end of next month.
The Académie des César felt compelled to act after two incidents. In 2020, Roman Polanski received a César for Best Director, while fleeing the United States to escape a conviction for raping a 13-year-old girl. During the awards ceremony, some people walked out of the theater in protest, and sometime later the full administration of the César op.
“Out of respect for the victims”
There has been confusion recently surrounding actor Sofiane Bennacer, who has been nominated for his role in the film The almond trees (known internationally as Forever Young). Following the announcement of the appointment, it emerged that police are investigating a rape allegation by Bennacer.
The appointment was therefore already revoked in November and the organization said it was considering further measures. The Académie now takes it, in its own words, out of respect for possible victims of sexual assault.
Bennacer denies the things he is accused of. The film’s director, Valeria Bruni-Tedeschi, says Bennacer was “lynched” by the media. His sister, Carla Bruni (wife of former president Nicolas Sarkozy), believes that he has been undermined the principle of innocence until his conviction.
