AlizéLaVie Media team had the opportunity to attend the 72nd annual Cannes festival for the 3rd time in a row which took place from May 14 to 25th 2019. The Cannes film festival is a key date in the global film festival calendar, bringing together filmmakers from across the globe to premiere new content.
This year it was incredibly special considering the fact we teamed up with Panafrica Woman Glam’S Ship. As a reminder PWGS is an organization of glamorous and leading women from Cannes and other various countries abroad, whose main goal is to promote entrepreneurial initiatives carried by women in order to break stereotypes and encourage diversity. Panafrica Woman Glam’S Ship launched their second edition of the international day of African Women “they inspire us” in collaboration with the Cannes festival. Entrepreneur Aida Diop launched this concept with Grace Baihache, coordinator of the international day of African Women digital blog. The theme was Women diversity in Cannes Festival allowing them to raise some critical issues, such as creating leading roles for women, lack of opportunities for women of color, and the inequality of pay grades for men and women.As a result a series of enlightening interviews were conducted by Mrs Aida who highlighted inspiring women from different backgrounds in order to express their voices.
This included actress Cynthia St Fleur and Aminata Diop Johnson founder of the cultural African agency just to name a few. We salute Panafrica women’s Glam ship initiative which also honored extraordinary women in Cannes festival for their leadership.
“A change by women is not just about the headlines. Small actions can have a real impact and create a better world” Panafrica Woman Glam Ship
Diversity and inclusion in Cannes:
Cannes has been plagued by a lack of diversity, which has been a constant topic that has been incredibly criticized over the years, and it continues to be an issue. For example there wasn’t a single film by a black director screening work at the 2017 Cannes international festival. This also includes the lack of Nigerian Films, which is surprising as it is the world’s second largest producer of movies. More than ever before it is very important to continue to promote diversity globally to raise awareness and implement new strategic approaches. Although it seemed all-global efforts resonated in Cannes and were not vain. Indeed this year the National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF), together with 15 other African nations, launched the Pavillon Afriques where the African delegation at a dedicated exhibition stand showcased content that highlighted the diversity and plurality of African film and television, which was a premiere in the Cannes festival history.
It has made a push to improve gender parity, which was exemplified by filmmaker and French actress Matti Diop biracial daughter of a Senegalese father and French mother. She directed the 2019 film Atlantics that was the first film by a black female director chosen for the prestigious main competition at the festival. She has become the first black female director to be in contention for the Cannes Film Festival’s highest prize, the Palme d’Or. Needless it is an exploit and a great achievement done by a black woman making history in 72 years.
“It is great there is an African film in competition but I still think it is disappointing in 2019, I am still the first black woman, we really need more people” she stated while taking her grand prix for her movie.
Obviously there is a lot of work to do but it is already a milestone giving hope for the next generation. A collective effort needs to continue to promote this fight for diversity and inclusion.
“Together, it can be demonstrated how diversity of individuals and ideas is an industry win-win!
YES WE CAN”
More info:
https://www.facebook.com/pg/GlamourAfricawoman/about/?ref=page_internal
https://www.festival-cannes.com/en/
By Alizé Utteryn, Cannes, France
