Cannes Film Festival: Did Virginie Efira break the rules with her dress when going up the steps?

The Cannes Film Festival is in full swing. And for Virginie Efira, it’s a race! The Franco-Belgian actress is in fact starring in two films in competition: Parallel storiesby Iranian director Asghar Farhadi, and Suddenlythe Japanese director Ryûsuke Hamaguchi. This Thursday, May 14, as she climbed the steps of the Palais des Festivals alongside Vincent Cassel, Pierre Niney, Catherine Deneuve and Isabelle Huppert, the Brussels resident was the target of controversy. In question: a minidress from the Saint Laurent brand in gold sequins. At his feet, the star of the film Blessed had opted for a pair of black heeled sandals to match her clutch, also from the Saint Laurent brand.

Did Virginie Efira break the rules of the Cannes Film Festival?

If the controversy has increased, it is because a strict clothing protocol governs the climb of the steps of the Palais des Festivals. On the official Festival website, we can indeed read: “For the gala sessions of the Grand Théâtre Lumiere, around 7 p.m. and 10 p.m., in the presence of the artistic teams, evening attire (long dress, tuxedo) is required. Failing that, “a little black dress”, a cocktail dress, a dark-colored pantsuit, a dressy top with black pants; elegant shoes and sandals with or without heels (no sneakers); a black or navy suit with bow tie or dark tie. For reasons of decency, nudity is prohibited on the red carpet, as well as in any other location of the Festival.”

Many therefore wonder if Niels Schneider’s companion respected the rules, she who wore a short golden evening dress. But cocktail attire being authorized and it not being naked, Virginie Efira respected the protocol perfectly.

Julia Roberts and Kristen Stewart have already climbed the steps of the Cannes Film Festival barefoot

There have been stars who break the rules at Cannes. In 2016, during the 69th edition of the festival, Julia Roberts, who came to defend the film alongside George Clooney and Jodie Foster Money Monster, had taken off her heels to climb the stairs barefoot, under the amused gaze of Thierry Frémaux, the festival boss. Two years later, in 2018, Kristen Stewart, then a member of the jury for the 71st edition, followed suit and took off her pair of Louboutins before walking the red carpet.

Symbolic gestures even though several women were refused access to a screening because they were not wearing high heels. In 2016, she is the model Bella Hadid, then twenty years old, who hit the headlines by appearing dressed in an ultra-slit red dress, a model by French designer Alexandre Vauthier. Enough to panic the Croisette!