Cannes 2016: Glamour and Prestige, but where is Diversity?

Published: 13 May 2016

Country: France, Cannes

CannesThe Côte d’Azur extravaganza is on. Movie stars and entertainment industry celebrities followed by masses of photographers gathered at the Cannes Film Festival this week. But besides glamour and glitz, it is worth highlighting the fact that female film makers, competitors for the prestigious Palme D’Or, are underrepresented.

There are 20 films competing in the main category this year, but only three are directed by women. In the whole history of the Cannes Film Festival , only one woman, Jane Campion, has won the prestigous award.

“Surely, the lack of women winning major awards such as this is bound to have a heavy effect on which films are later deemed important in cinematic history,”reports The Independent.

The Media Diversity Institute Communications Manager Dasha Ilic explained in an interview for TRT World why diversity in film is important and how to secure better gender equality and representation.