Posted May 21, 2023 at 2:30pm ET
CANNES, France (AP) — Protests over pension reforms have fueled France in recent months, but the protests largely came to a halt during one of the country’s most eye-catching events, the Cannes Film Festival.
Dozens of demonstrators gathered in Cannes on Sunday to protest the reversal of reforms approved by President Emmanuel Macron’s government in Parliament. However, these events were far from the main festival center, the Palais des Festivals or the seaside Croisette in Cannes. Instead, they gathered on the outskirts of the city, on Boulevard Carnot.
“We are against pension reforms that will kill many people at work,” said Thomas Jestem, one of the demonstrators.
Ahead of the festival, the local authorities in Cannes ordered a ban on gatherings in most areas of Cannes. The move was part of a growing effort across France to ban protests in some high-profile locations. Unions called for a new round of nationwide protests on 6 June.
The ban kept Cannes’ famous red carpet away from protests and prevented one of France’s most controversial issues from disrupting the highly organized festival.
The exception was Friday. Hospital workers circumvented the ban by posing privately outside the Carlton Hotel, a luxury historic hotel where many stars stay during the festival. Hotel and restaurant workers hold a banner that reads “No to pension reform”.
Labor disputes have affected much of Cannes this year, and Hollywood screenwriters have gone on strike. Film and TV writers are seeking higher salaries, fixes for the lifespan of live broadcasts, and safeguards against the use of artificial intelligence.
Juror Paul Dano said he plans to join the sit-down lines when he gets home. Sean Penn called the studios’ stance on artificial intelligence “human obscenity”. The board of directors of SAG-AFTRA, the actors’ union, voted earlier this week to demand that its members be allowed to strike in their own negotiations with the studios for a new contract.
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“We are against pension reforms that will lead to many people dying at work,” said Thomas Guestem, one of the demonstrators.
Ahead of the festival, the local authorities in Cannes ordered a ban on gatherings in most parts of Cannes. The move was part of growing attempts across France to ban demonstrations in some high-profile locations. Unions called for a new round of nationwide demonstrations on 6 June.
The ban kept Cannes’ famous red carpet away from demonstrations and prevented one of France’s most divisive issues from disrupting the highly organized flow of the festival.
One exception was Friday. Hospital workers sidestepped the ban by protesting in private in front of the Carlton Hotel, a luxury historic hotel where many stars stay during the festival. Hotel and restaurant workers hold up a banner that reads “No to Pension Reforms”.
Labor strife has affected much of Cannes this year, and it’s just as Hollywood screenwriters strike. Film and TV writers are seeking higher salaries, reforms for the streaming era, and safeguards against the use of artificial intelligence.
Juror Paul Dano said he plans to join the picket lines when he gets home. Sean Penn called the studios’ stance on artificial intelligence “human obscenity”. The board of directors of SAG-AFTRA, the actors’ union, voted earlier this week to require its members license to strike in its own negotiations with the studios for a new contract.
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