Ibrahim Maalouf removed from Deauville Festival jury

Ibrahim Maalouf was accused several years ago of sexual assault on a minor, a case in which he was acquitted in 2020.

The new director of the Deauville American Film Festival, Aude Hesbert, announces in The Tribune Sunday (paid link) that trumpeter Ibrahim Maalouf is no longer part of the jury, due to a “malaise in the team” in connection with the #MeToo wave.

“It is not up to me to judge, punish or condemn, but the presence of Ibrahim Maalouf was becoming more and more problematic for the smooth and peaceful running of a festival that is celebrating its 50th anniversary, which is also my first edition and which I wish to carry with clarity and transparency,” she declared in an interview with the newspaper, before this edition from September 6 to 15.

Ibrahim Maalouf was accused several years ago of sexual assault on a minor, a case in which he was acquitted in 2020. “The Deauville festival sacrifices an innocent on the altar of the supreme principle +the show must go on+ for commercial interests”, regretted his lawyer, Me Fanny Colin, in a message sent to AFP on Saturday evening. “The festival asked Ibrahim Maalouf to withdraw in all discretion, which he obviously refused,” she added. “This is to omit in fact that, having been acquitted and publicly recognised as innocent, it is just as publicly and before the courts that he will fight this unjust and dishonourable eviction for its perpetrators.”

Aude Hesbert reports that“When the composition of the jury was announced on August 8, there were many reactions on social networks and in the media, a malaise set in among the team, already hurt by the previous affair.”

She has in fact succeeded Bruno Barde as head of the festival, who stepped back after accusations of sexual assault in Mediapart. She has “made the difficult decision”that she “will take responsibility until the end to exclude Ibrahim Maalouf from the jury.” The director indicates that she will “extend (the) work on cinephilia” led by Bruno Barde, “while bringing our DNA and a new form of governance.”

“At the beginning of the festival, we will publish a charter against sexist and sexual violence to avoid all abuses of power, even beyond MeToo. We will be extremely vigilant on these subjects in the future,” she promises.