Aude Hesbert appointed director of the Deauville American Film Festival after the withdrawal of Bruno Barde, accused of sexual assault

She will also be at the head of the Gérardmer International Fantastic Film Festival and the Reims Police Film Festival.

Aude Hesbert has been appointed director of the Deauville American Film Festival, succeeding Bruno Barde, who stepped down following accusations of sexual assault in Mediapart, the Hopscotch group, which manages the event’s communications, announced on Monday July 22.

In addition to the Deauville Festival, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year (September 6-15), Aude Hesbert is also taking over Bruno Barde’s duties as head of the Gérardmer International Fantastic Film Festival (January 29-February 2, 2025) and the Reims Police Film Festival (April 1-6, 2025).

Aude Hesbert also succeeds Bruno Barde as general director of Public système cinéma, a communications and events organization agency around cinema, which belongs to the Hopscotch group.

Aude Hesbert has been active in the international festival circuit for twenty years, having notably participated in the Quinzaine des Cinémas in Cannes, the Paris Cinéma Festival and Unifrance, an organization responsible for promoting French cinema and audiovisual internationally.

In 2018, Aude Hesbert joined Public système cinéma as deputy director, a position she held until 2023 before becoming director of the Villa Albertine in Los Angeles, an institution supporting cultural exchanges between France and the United States.

Bruno Barde was “exemption” from mid-June of all the responsibilities mentioned above after having been targeted by accusations of harassment and sexual assault by seven female colleagues between 2014 and 2023, according to an investigation by Mediapart.

“I have never made any remarks of a sexual nature, nor made any gesture or incitement of a sexual or sexist nature towards my female colleagues.“, Bruno Barde defended himself in Mediapart. “And, if ever some may have felt offended, I ask them to sincerely apologize.“, he added. The anonymous testimonies published by Mediapart ranged from sexist remarks, to a hand under a T-shirt or even an offer of a bath with massage.

This new case comes as French cinema is in the midst of a new #MeToo wave since actress Judith Godrèche filed a complaint against directors Benoît Jacquot and Jacques Doillon for sexual and physical violence dating back to her adolescence.

Benoît Jacquot was also charged with the rape of actresses Julia Roy in 2013 and Isild le Besco between 1998 and 2000, and placed under judicial supervision.