Cannes is one of the most notorious and revered film festival in the world.
In the effortlessly cool setting of southern France, away from the bright lights of Hollywood, Cannes has always represented the more serious, more respectable side of the film industry, rather than the all-singing all-dancing fanfare of other festivals and awards ceremonies.
However, Cannes also has its own set of unwritten rules. This year festival organisers have officially banned selfies being taken on the red carpet.
In an interview with Film Francais, Festival chief Thierry Fremaux said he finds taking selfies ‘ridiculous and grotesque’.
There have also been changes to the way the press and media have access to the festival, no longer being allowed to see the movies at pre-premiere screenings instead having to wait for the official galas along with everyone else.
These new rules may be restrictive to some, especially those selfie-addicts who’ll have a hard time whipping out their phones every few seconds.
However, there’s also a bit of a strange unwritten rule, one that perhaps doesn’t paint the festival in the best light.
In the past, Cannnes Film Festival has faced criticism for apparently trying to ban flat shoes being worn by women on the red carpet.
During the world premiere of the 2015 film Carol, starring Cate Blanchett, women were allegedly turned away from the screening for wearing flats instead of high heels.
Kinda backwards for a supposedly forward-thinking film festival.
So, at this year’s festival, actress Kristen Stewart caused quite a stir on the red carpet by removing her heels completely, MailOnline reports.
During the build-up to the premiere of Spike Lee’s new film, BlacKkKlansman, Stewart posed for the cameras on the carpet and then, in a moment of carefree abandon, whipped off her heels and ran up the stairs to get inside.
Perhaps it was a statement. Perhaps she was tired and was wanted to get inside as quickly as possible. Perhaps the shoes didn’t fit quite right and were just plain uncomfortable. Who knows. Though it’s pretty certain that security still let her in to the premiere despite the film festival faux pas, after she wasn’t technically wearing flats.
Last year, Stewart spoke to The Hollywood Reporter about the outdated and imbalanced rules at the festival.
She said:
There’s definitely a distinct dress code, right? People get very upset if you don’t wear heels or whatever.
I feel like you can’t ask people that any more – it’s a given. If you’re not asking guys to wear heels and a dress, you cannot ask me either.
Fans were also quick to praise Stewart who, at only 28, has been to Cannes as an actress, a writer/director, and now a jury member. Quite an achievement.
Stewart’s not the first to show a small act of rebellion at the film festival, which is now in its 71st year.
Last year, Julia Roberts rocked the red carpet barefoot for the premiere of her movie Money Monster.
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Charlie Cocksedge is a journalist and sub-editor at UNILAD. He graduated from the University of Manchester with an MA in Creative Writing, where he learnt how to write in the third person, before getting his NCTJ. His work has also appeared in such places as The Guardian, PN Review and the bin.