Cannes Film Festival Chief, Thierry Fremaux, Discusses Adele Haenel’s Comments and Johnny Depp’s Involvement at the Festival.
Thierry Fremaux, the head of the Cannes Film Festival, has addressed the ongoing controversy surrounding the event. He emphasized that he viewed Johnny Depp and his film purely in the context of an actor and a cinematic work, stating that if the film had been banned, the discussion surrounding Johnny’s presence at the festival would not have arisen. The Cannes Film Festival is scheduled to commence on May 16 and will continue until May 27. (Additionally, explore: Familiar Controversies Arise at Cannes Film Festival 2023, Yet Nothing Out of the Ordinary).
During a press conference preceding the opening night of the 2023 Cannes Film Festival, The recent allegations made by Adele Haenel, an actor from “Portrait of a Lady on Fire.” Haenel had published an open letter in Telerama, suggesting that Cannes was celebrating rapists. Fremaux questioned journalists, asking if they truly believed that Cannes endorsed rapists, referencing Haenel’s claims about Roman Polanski, Gerard Depardieu, and Dominique Boutonnat, the president of the National Film Board (CNC). Fremaux described Haenel’s comments as “radical” and “false.” It is important to note that Haenel herself had previously participated in the Cannes Film Festival in 2019, presenting “Portrait of a Lady on Fire” as a competition entry.
Fremaux highlighted that the selection of these films in the lineup is a testament to the enduring and strong bond between the Cannes Film Festival and American cinema, emphasizing the festival’s commitment to fidelity and excellence.
