After the César for Best Director awarded by the French Film Academy a Roman Polansky in 2020 a great controversy has arisen due to the allegations of rape following the Polish director since 1977: the awarding of this prize did not please the ranks of the French film industry. This is not the only controversial case, nor the closest to date, the actor Sofia Bennacer, who was named a breakthrough artist, was charged with alleged assault and rape by several women in 2022.
This Monday, the Academy succumbed to pressure and announced that it will exclude from its lists to anyone accused of violent acts, even without conviction. “Out of respect for the victims, we have decided not to distinguish people who have been accused by justice of violent acts,” the Academy reported.
The actor from Strasbourg National Theatre he had been selected among the 30 revelation artists of the year. In October last year an investigation was opened into two alleged rapes and another for assault against the actor. Allegations that have been launched by former romantic associates of Bennacer. The actor was removed from the nominations by the Academy management which also initiated a reform to amend the regulation.
Now, any artist against whom the accusations weigh, especially those to which they are related crimes of a sexual or sexist natureThey will not be able to participate in the next César gala on February 25, or in any case organized by the Academy. “This veto will also bar any speech on behalf of that person during those events, even if he or she was given a Caesar during a second round of voting,” the institution said in a statement.
The Academy is still in a period of reflection on the reform of its regulation, however it has come to the decision to apply it to the next gala.
