Cannes Backlash: Film Festival Bans Women From Wearing Flat Shoes
Cannes Film Festival is very picky when it comes to their films. They’re known to air out their feelings during screenings, which results in booing from time to time. Now, it’s been said that they’re picky about how they like their women, too.
The Cannes Film Festival is receiving backlash and being called sexist after they have banned women from wearing flat shoes on the red carpet. According to Screen International, women were turned away from film premieres if they show up wearing anything other than heels. Cannes has labeled high heels mandatory for all red carpet events.
It doesn’t matter how tall you are or what age you are, because older women who experience medical conditions weren’t allowed to view Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara’s film, Carol, because they weren’t in the accepted footwear, which is high heels.
Twitter has responded to Cannes Film Festival and their new mandatory policy.
@THIERRYFREMAUX The insistence that women wear heels to attend screenings at Cannes is archaic, sexist and absurd. Fix this please.
— Michael Sicinski (@msicism) May 19, 2015
In protest to @Festival_Cannes being sexist I think all men should wear heels and women flats for the remainder of screenings. #cannesheels
— Starina Johnson (@StarinaJohnson) May 19, 2015
Outrageous that @Festival_Cannes insist women wear high heels. Sexist, ableist, outdated. #showmeyourflats #feminism pic.twitter.com/5LctnKX6Cy
— Women’s Association (@WomensUoB) May 19, 2015
Cannes flats thing is insane and sexist. But there is a lot of detail not being offered. 3 cases with names attached. Is it a sandals thing?
— David Poland (@DavidPoland) May 19, 2015
Actress Emily Blunt shared her thoughts about the policy when a reporter told her about the high heels mandate. “I think everyone should wear flats to be honest at the best of times. We shouldn’t wear high heels anyway. But that’s just my point of view. I just prefer wearing Converse sneakers.”
“You kind of think that there’s these new waves of equality and waves of people realizing that women are just as kind of fascinating and interesting to watch. And it was interesting with this film I think you [director Denis Villeneuve] got asked early on if you’d rewrite my part for a guy.”
A spokesperson told the BBC that the “rules have not changed throughout the years (tuxedo, formal dress for gala screenings) and there is no specific mention about the height of the women’s heels as well as for men’s.”
That said, it’s believed that director Asif Kapadia almost missed her own premiere for her Amy Winehouse documentary due to her flats.
What are your thoughts about this new unspoken policy?
[Photo by Pascal Le Segretain / Getty Images]
