Cannes Staffers Urged To Remain Politically Neutral In Pre-Fest Letter From Organizers; Will There Be A Protest From Them Tonight?

EXCLUSIVE: Cannes Film Festival organizers have urged all staffers to remain politically neutral while on the job in a series of guidelines sent out ahead of this evening's opening night gala.
The instructions, which were sent to all staff members working on this year's event and have been reviewed by Deadline, list guidelines on social media use and dealing with the press alongside instructions on steering clear of political discussions. News of the updated guidelines come as we learn a selection of Cannes staffers aim to once again mount demonstrations during this year's event, including at tonight's opening ceremony, to raise awareness of their working conditions.
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'Maintain a certain political neutrality in your exchanges with festival-goers,' the instruction read in the pre-festival letter from organizers. We understand the specific note on politics is a new addition to advice traditionally shared with festival staffers.
Multiple Cannes staffers we spoke with this morning said the updated staff protocols were indicative of what they described as the festival's beefed-up approach to political protests and demonstrations, particularly around its centerpiece events like this evening's opening ceremony.
In a statement to Deadline, the public and privately-backed festival said: 'As in many organizations, team members are asked not to express political opinions when speaking on behalf of the Festival in a professional context. Outside of this framework, everyone is free to hold and express their own beliefs.'
Last year, a small collection of staff working across the festival's competition strands did mount a series of modest demonstrations to raise awareness about their working conditions. A rooftop demonstration was held at last year's opening night gala.
The group was organized under the unofficial union Sous Les Écrans La Dèche, which includes 300 film festival workers from across France, including staff who work on the Cannes Official Selection, the festival's Marché du Film, and parallel sections of Directors' Fortnight and Critics' Week. We understand the group is in discussion about how to replicate a similar demonstration at this evening's opening ceremony, as last-minute negotiations held this week about their working contracts with the French government and the Cannes Film Festival broke down.
The Sous les Écrans la Dèche movement has some high-profile supporters. French filmmaker Justine Triet wore the group's bright red pin on her suit lapel as she walked the red carpet for Palme d'Or winner Anatomy Of A Fall at Cannes in 2023. 2025 Cannes Film Festival jury member Payal Kapadia was wearing the same pin as she debuted All We Imagine As Light on the Croisette in 2024.
Cannes opens this evening with Leave One Day by first-time French filmmaker Amelie Bonnin. Juliette Binoche leads the competition jury. The festival runs until May 24.
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