Cannes Jury President Greta Gerwig On #MeToo Wave At Fest: “It’s Only Moving Things In The Correct Direction”

With rumors of a #MeToo bombshell report knocking on the Cannes Film Festival’s door, this year’s jury president of the 77th edition, Greta Gerwig, acknowledged the wave that’s out there in a way that Festival Boss Thierry Frémaux didn’t want to address at his press conference yesterday.

“I think people in the community of movies telling their stories and changing things for the better is only good,” said the Barbie filmmaker, “I’ve seen substantial changes in the American film community; I think it’s important to expand the conversation.”

“It’s only moving things in the correct direction, keeping those lines of communication open” said Gerwig about a press member’s query as to whether the current #MeToo climate is France is impacting the festival.

J.A. Bayona took a line in regards to #MeToo on par with Frémaux’s: “It’s not an issue that impacts the cinema, but it’s an issue that’s widespread. We’re here only for the films.”

Today’s remarks come in the wake of rumors that website Mediapart was going to drop a big #MeToo expose on a number of French filmmakers and talent, many who have films in the festival. That buzz has dissipated in recent days. At the same time, Frémaux was very defensive yesterday in a press conference about the festival being besieged with #MeToo rumors.

“If there are polemics, we try to avoid them,” said the Cannes Film Festival Boss, ““We would like to have a festival without polemics…the politics should be up on the screen.”

Gerwig also vocally supported the festival workers who are considering a strike during Cannes.

“I certainly support labor movements. We’ve gone through this now with our unions. I hope the festivals and workers can form an agreement that’s good for them and supports the festival. This is important that people have protection and a living wage.”

This year’s Cannes Film Festival jury, led by President Greta Gerwig, are Turkish screenwriter and photographer Ebru Ceylan, U.S. actress Lily Gladstone, French actress Eva Green, Lebanese director and screenwriter Nadine Labaki, Spanish director and screenwriter J.A. Bayona, Italian actor Pierfrancisco Favino, Japanese director Hirokazu Kore-eda and French actor and producer Omar Sy.