The Cannes Film Festival has responded to the possibility of a strike by festival workers over pay and labor regulations. The festival issued its first official statement, expressing hope that "solutions will be found" to prevent disruptions during the 2024 festival, scheduled to begin on May 14.
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| Anatomy of a Fall' director Justine Triet (middle) and Swann Arlaud (right) wore "Sous les écrans" badges in support of festival workers at last year's Cannes festival. PHOTO BY STEPHANE CARDINALE - CORBIS/CORBIS VIA GETTY IMAGES |
The call for a strike was made by a group known as the Sous les écrans la dèche (Broke Behind the Screens) collective, representing workers at the Cannes festival, as well as the Directors' Fortnight, Critics' Week, and ACID sidebar sections. The collective is protesting the "precarious" position of freelancer employees at the festival.
Festival employees are often hired on short-term contracts for the duration of the festival. However, unlike other intermediate workers in the entertainment industry, many festival workers are not covered by France's unemployment insurance program, which means they do not qualify for unemployment benefits between jobs or projects. The upcoming reforms to French labor laws, set to take effect on July 1, will further restrict eligibility for benefits, making it even more challenging for freelance workers to qualify.
In response to these challenges, the Cannes Film Festival has expressed awareness of the difficulties faced by some of their staff. The festival organizers have stated their willingness to engage in dialogue with employees and have called for all relevant parties, including other festivals, institutions, and unions, to come together to find a collective solution to the issues raised by the workers.
The Collective of Precarious Workers at Film Festivals, consisting of up to 200 film festival workers, has announced their intention to strike during the Cannes Film Festival next week. The group, which includes festival projectionists, press officers, and administration staff, is protesting against what they perceive as inadequate compensation, particularly the absence of overtime pay. Their protest is also in response to the upcoming changes in the French unemployment law, which will make it more challenging for freelance workers to qualify for benefits.
The 2024 Cannes Film Festival is scheduled to take place from May 14 to May 25.
The Cannes Film Festival, along with the Quinzaine des Cinéastes, the Semaine de la Critique, and the ACID, have issued a statement in response to the protest group 'Sous les écrans la dèche.' The statement acknowledges the challenges faced by some festival staff affected by the reform of the French unemployment insurance scheme, which has led to a reduction in their benefits. The festivals express their willingness to engage in dialogue to find solutions and support their staff.
The statement highlights the importance of addressing these issues collectively and calls for all concerned parties, including festivals, institutions, and unions, to come together for discussions. The festivals recognize the significance of these demands and emphasize the need for constructive dialogue to reform the status of festival workers.
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