If you want to get into a screening at Cannes, you had better be wearing heels.
At least, if you’re a female, that is.
The Cannes Film Festival is facing backlash after reportedly denying women access because they weren’t wearing heels. And it’s not like they were wearing running shoes – but apparently rhinestone flats just won’t make the cut.
Even if you can’t wear heels due to an injury (or an amputation).
Yes, sadly, we’re being serious.
A group of women in their 50s – some of whom had medical conditions – were turned away from the gala screening of Todd Haynes’s Carol for not wearing high-heeled shoes, according to industry newspaper Screen Daily.
Not surprisingly, that isn’t going over well.
Film fans have taken to social media to protest what they call a sexist dress-code policy. Some of the Cannes film stars are chiming in, too. When asked her thoughts on the issue at a press conference for her film Sicario, Emily Blunt was, well, pretty blunt in her opinion; “Everyone should wear flats, to be honest. We shouldn’t wear high heels,” she said. “That’s very disappointing, just when you kind of think there are these new waves of equality.”
Asif Kapadia, director of the Amy Winehouse documentary, Amy (which premiered in Cannes last week), took to Twitter as well after his wife was initially denied access. She was eventually allowed in, however.
Apparently a film producer who has part of her left foot amputated was also stopped for forgoing the heels. Valeria Richter told the Telegraph that she had been stopped four times by officials at the premiere for The Sea of Trees before eventually being allowed to proceed.
Meanwhile, Cannes’s director, Thierry Frémaux, has denied that high heels are mandatory.
Of course, Cannes’s red-carpet screenings are by invitation only, and the dress code – described on the ticket as “smart” – is explained to guests after they collect a ticket for their film.
Apparently “smart” means heels.
#NOTABLE
Want more updates on the most Notable things happening so you know before your colleagues do? Get our exclusive newsletter here and follow us on Twitter for all the latest.