Cannes Film Festival 2026: A text submitted to the Assembly to fight against violence in the world of culture

“Let’s not sweep the violence under the rug!”: in the middle of the Cannes Film Festival, a bill was tabled on Wednesday in the National Assembly to strengthen the fight against violence committed in the world of cinema and culture.

A year after the publication of a parliamentary report on the subject, “charters have been signed, listening units have emerged” but these “advances remain fragile as long as they are not based on a solid legislative base”, estimate the deputies Erwan Balanant (MoDem) and Sandrine Rousseau (ecologist).

Creation of a new offense

“Despite the media impact of numerous testimonies, one affair has always driven out the other, without ever questioning the structural conditions which allowed this scourge to take on such magnitude,” they add in a press release. “The careers of the attackers continue, while those of the people who dared to speak out are shattered.” Faced with this observation, the two elected officials consider it “urgent to concretely strengthen the protection of minors”, in particular by “establishing a systematic check of integrity for any person required to work with this public.”

Their bill also calls for “securing the jobs and rights of workers by law” by “prohibiting any financial sanctions, withholding of wages or requests for damages against those who report” acts of violence and harassment sexist and sexual. The text also provides for a strengthening of criminal sanctions, in particular by the creation of a “new offense requiring employers to report facts brought to their attention”.

“Systemic” sexual violence

In its report published in April 2025, the parliamentary commission of inquiry into #MeToo in culture reported “systemic” sexual violence in this sector and listed 86 recommendations to stop “the talent crushing machine”.

This commission was created in the wake of the accusations of rape made in early 2024 by the actress Judith Godrèche when she was a minor against the directors Benoît Jacquot and Jacques Doillon.