The Académie des César du cinema recently announced that it would prohibit people accused of “acts of violence, in particular of a sexual or sexist nature”, from participating in its next ceremony. While said ceremony will take place on Thursday, The duty wondered if the galas here should follow in the footsteps of the Césars, or if similar regulations were already in force in Quebec.
Let us remember, first of all, that this announcement by the Césars was made in the wake of what the French media called “the Sofiane Bennacer affair”. Main actor of the film almond trees, he was accused of rape and “violence” by four ex-spouses last fall. Critically acclaimed, the film is still nominated in several categories, including “best picture”. Bennacer, however, was removed from the Academy’s “revelations” in an effort to prevent his nomination for the “top male prospect” award.
How would Quebec galas have reacted to such a situation? Ève Paré, director general of the Quebec Association of the Record, Entertainment and Video Industry (ADISQ), behind the gala of the same name, says that her association has been considering the question “for several months, even years “.
However, ADISQ has still not developed regulations governing this type of scenario, although Mr.me Paré says she is working on it. Anyway, the music gala is not alone. All organizations contacted by The duty have no protocol except Gemini prices.
Indeed, the Quebec team of the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television, which oversees the Gémeaux awards, has adopted rules under which it “reserves the right to withdraw an application or a appointment that does not comply with the Academy’s code of conduct”. The code, which also applies to the Canadian Screen Awards, requires its member organizations to “reaffirm zero tolerance for harassment, discrimination, bullying and violence.”
“No miracle recipe”
Mme Paré explains that the ADISQ has not established any regulations for the moment “because it is very difficult to frame each situation. Each organization finds its own means. […] There is no miracle recipe, since the reactions will be different depending on the number of files, the nature of the allegations and the seriousness of the actions.
This is why the organization recently formed an “advisory committee”, which should allow the organization “to develop guidelines” and “to formulate recommendations for specific cases”, says Ms.me Ready. She specifies that the group, which is “among other things composed of experts in victimology and criminal law”, should “adopt a code of ethics in the coming months”.
Intolerance towards violence should be automatically included among the conditions of admission to galas
Joanne Pouliot, director general of the Association of Professionals of the Humor Industry (APIH), which directs the Gala Les Olivier, indicates that the regulations of her gala do not contain clauses in this regard. It nevertheless specifies that the APIH has already “taken action to counter any form of inappropriate behavior”, including suspending the membership of one of its members “for whom allegations had been filed”, without specifying his name.
“Regarding the gala, to date we have not received any applications from members who have been the subject of allegations,” adds Ms.me Pouliot. However, we plan to look into the subject to prepare for this eventuality. »
For her part, Carla Beauvais, Executive Director of the Dynasty Foundation, which is leading the gala of the same name, replies by email that policies “are being developed by a committee” and that they “will be implemented shortly”. Moreover, Quebec Cinema is still trying to organize the next Gala Quebec Cinema since Radio-Canada announced last fall that it would be withdrawn from the airwaves of the public broadcaster. However, the organization did not respond to requests from the Duty.
The Caesars, a special case?
Thus, more than five years after the emergence of the #MeToo movement, some observers could criticize the galas here for having been slow to establish policies to manage possible situations of violence. But they might also wonder if the Caesars truly made a forward-thinking decision, or if they were instead forced to announce their new policy due to specific controversies.
Bernard Motulsky, professor in the Department of Communication at the University of Quebec in Montreal (UQAM) and expert in public relations, rightly emphasizes the “exceptional” nature of their approach. “Organizations like this shouldn’t have to advertise this stuff,” he says. Intolerance towards violence should be automatically included among the conditions of admission to galas. »
The professor compares their announcement to that of Gemini when they introduced non-gendered categories last December: “It is normal that this is controversial. They were the first to upset established norms. That shouldn’t be the case with the Caesars. “It is therefore explained their declaration because of the “numerous controversies” which shook them these last years, thinking among others of the nominations of Roman Polanski for I accuse in 2020.
“They had to react to [l’affaire Bennacer] last fall, but it’s also been a decade since all kinds of allegations came out in the film industry, he says. I would add that the social climate in France, where until very recently nominations of artists like Polanski were allowed, perhaps requires more [qu’au Québec] that we express more firmly a refusal of violence like what we do with the Caesars. »
For his part, M.me Paré says he is not in a position to comment on the Academy’s strategy, but indicates that ADISQ “will soon announce its process” on these questions. Announcement or not, according to Mr. Motulsky, certain measures are necessary since “with situations like those of Éric Lapointe or Gilbert Rozon, Quebec is not immune to controversy”.