The Cannes Film Festival hotline, which is new this year, has received multiple phone call reports of sexual harassment, according to Deadline. France’s Equality Minister Marlène Schiappa said that one case from the complaint of an "Anglo-Saxon woman" escalated to the involvement of local police. The festival could not provide further details of this incident.
The festival confirmed that the hotline has received "a few calls" every day of the festival thus far. The Cannes Film Festival began on Tuesday. A spokesperson told Deadline that most of these calls came from the general public as opposed to professionals in the industry.
The spokesperson said to Deadline, "The hotline staff can provide advice on what to do but can also directly contact the relevant professionals, starting of course with the festival security staff but also police, hospitals, medical teams etc. The workers are also able to accompany the victims to help with translations, etc."
Three employees who speak multiple languages operate the phones, which are in operation from 9 a.m.-2 p.m.
The sexual harassment hotline was developed in partnership with the French government. Cannes has taken several steps to acknowledge and combat sexual misconduct in the industry in the era of #MeToo. On Saturday, 82 women gathered on the red carpet at the festival and protested for better representation for women in film. The action was led by Cate Blanchett and legendary French film star Agnès Varda. They were joined by Ava DuVernay, Salma Hayek, Marion Cotillard, Kristen Stewart, and more.
The festival also put fliers in the gift bags festivalgoers received that said "correct behaviour required" and included #NeRienLaisserPasser, which means "do not let anything go." The fliers said that sexual harassment is an action punishable by maximum three years in prison plus a €45,000 ($54,000) fine, reports Deadline.
