France’s film industry is stepping up its anti-sexual harassment efforts. In the wake of “Portrait of a Lady on Fire” star Adèle Haenel’s revelation that she was harassed for years by director Christophe Ruggia, beginning when she was 12, the French culture ministry and film board have introduced new guidelines to combat sexual misconduct and violence. According to Variety, the guidelines also aim to increase gender parity in French film and TV.
These new standards include requiring companies seeking subsidies to undergo programs designed to detect and prevent harassment, and on-site counselors during production. France’s culture minister, Franck Riester, presented the guidelines at an event last Thursday co-hosted by gender equality initiative 5050×2020.
The French film board, the CNC, is expected to soon announce workshops for industry employers “to help them put in place mechanisms to prevent inappropriate behavior in schools, on shoots, in studios, and during the promotion of films,” the source details.
France Televisions president Delphine Ernotte Cunci also confirmed that the broadcaster would be imposing quotas next year to increase the amount of women-directed content it commissions. Per CNC research, men currently represent 88 percent of all audiovisual content directors in France. Cunci promised that there will be on-site counselors to prevent harassment on every TV shoot.
Last year the CNC introduced a scheme that offers a 15 percent bonus in subsidies to films with gender-balanced film crews. Twenty-nine films have received the bonus so far.
“The film and TV industries have a particular responsibility. By conditioning the CNC subsidies we are taking strong measures to fight against violence and harassment,” said film board prez Dominique Boutonnat. “Beyond these, ensuring parity at all levels, including in key roles, is also a powerful accelerator of change.”
Accusations of sexual violence have rocked France’s film industry this year. Haenel’s testimony resulted in Ruggia’s expulsion from the French directors’ guild. French photographer Valentine Monnier alleged Roman Polanski — an admitted rapist who has been shirking justice for decades now — violently sexually assaulted her in 1975. Yet that didn’t stop Polanski’s latest film, “An Officer and a Spy,” from opening in France last week. Nine women have accused director Luc Besson of rape or inappropriate behavior, yet the authorities neglected to charge him. His most recent film, spy thriller “Anna,” hit theaters this past summer.
