The Cannes Film Festival just became a lot more welcoming to working parents. The world’s most prestigious fest and its film market, Marché du Film, have launched “Le Ballon Rouge, Where Children Are The New VIPS,” an initiative that offers services to industry professionals with babies or small children. “Le Ballon Rouge” will include childcare, a station for breastfeeding and diaper-changing, expedited fest access, and more. Screen Daily broke the news.
In the past Cannes has received criticism for its lack of accommodations — and lack of concern — for parents attending the fest with children. In a guest post for Women and Hollywood, film critic and Women In Film member Nanna Frank Rasmussen wrote about the cold reception working mothers received while attending Cannes last year. “Polish journalist Anna Tatarska, 32, who has been covering the festival for seven years … was incredibly surprised that she couldn’t bring her five-month-old baby to pick up her accreditation,” Rasmussen revealed. Needless to say, Tatarska was also prohibited from bringing her son to the fest. She ended up having to leave the Palais every few hours to breastfeed.
Fortunately, with “Le Ballon Rouge,” Cannes and Marché du Film seem to be rectifying these missteps and addressing mothers, parents, and kids’ needs — not to mention treating them with actual respect. The five-pronged program features a family-friendly accreditation process, and will provide two complimentary badges for a nanny and baby; a designated space for breastfeeding and diaper-changing; easy, preferential fest access for parents with small children and/or strollers; childcare at the “Ballon Rouge” Kids Pavilion, which requires a small fee; and a VIP kit with a map and information on all the fest’s family services, after-hours childcare among them.
Over a dozen organizations are supporting “Le Ballon Rouge,” including Raising Films and 5050×2020. The group Parenting at Film Festivals raised money for the childcare portion of the initiative via a crowdfunding campaign.
Parenting at Film Festivals heads Aurélie Godet, Sarah Calderon, and Michelle Carey lauded “Le Ballon Rouge,” saying they are “heartened and amazed” that Cannes and Marché took their suggestions to heart. “They embraced the vast majority of our proposals and are seriously considering the rest for 2020 once the demands for these services have been evaluated,” the leaders remarked. “We believe this will pave the way for an unprecedented new children-friendly journey that other festivals can take inspiration from.”
In a statement, Cannes Film Festival general delegate Thierry Frémaux and Marché du Film executive director Jérôme Paillard acknowledged that, while the lack of adequate family services concerns all parents, it’s an issue that especially hurts women. “Although the ever-present issue of work-life balance affects everyone, regardless of gender, we know the impact on women is much greater,” they said. “There is much work to be done by major festivals to make their infrastructure and services family-friendly, to more effectively enable participation of women in the industry, who will benefit from a better balance and thus more success. We are excited to lead the way among major festivals and hope other festivals will follow.”
Last year Cannes saw 82 women protesting on the red carpet, in commemoration of the 82 women who have walked the Palais de Festival steps as directors with films in Competition, as compared to the 1,688 men. The fest also signed the historic Gender Parity Pledge, promising to make its film selection process more transparent to the public — and inspired many others to follow suit.
Cannes 2019 will take place May 14-25. The Marché du Film will be held May 14-23. Claire Denis has been named President of the Cannes Film Festival’s Short Films and Cinéfondation Jury and Nadine Labacki will serve as chair of the Un Certain Regard Jury.
Details on “Le Ballon Rouge” are below, courtesy of Marché du Film.
1. Family-Friendly Accreditation Process
Film professionals traveling with babies and young children will have a special accreditation in order to access the dedicated services the Marché is providing, including the Pantiero’s Kids Pavilion and the Palais’ Change & Feeding Corner, as well as two additional badges for nanny + baby (free of charge). Cinando will host on its site the newly-created group Parenting at Film Festivals to better identify the community and its needs.
2. Le Ballon Rouge Kids Pavilion
Located at the Village International Pantiero, this 25m2 tent with terrace will welcome families from 10 am-6 pm daily from the 14th until the 21st of May. There, parents can choose to either spend time with their children, have family-friendly meetings in dedicated areas, or leave their children for up to 6 hours in the care of professional nannies provided by a specialized company. This special service will be offered by a cluster of partners. A small compensation will be asked to parents wishing to benefit from this service.
3. Le Ballon Rouge Express-Changing & Feeding Corner
A dedicated room for parents and carers for breastfeeding, feeding, or nappy-changing, will be open from 9 am-6:30 pm daily from the 14th until the 26th of May in the Palais des Festivals.
4. Easy Access
Priority access to the Marché will be given to parents entering with children at the Palais’ main entrance, Riviera entrance, and Pantiero entrance. As the stroller approaches with its dedicated Ballon Rouge flag, staff will help them through security.
5. Le Ballon Rouge Baby VIP Kit
In collaboration with Parenting at Film Festivals and Cinando, a dedicated bag for children will be offered, with family-friendly map and services in Cannes, Marché access flag, list of certified nannies for after-hours care, and other helpful items.
