(Paris) Bruno Barde, targeted by accusations of sexual assault in an investigation by the investigative site Mediapart, was “exempted” from the post of director of the Deauville American Cinema Festival, the Hopscotch group which oversees the activities of the person concerned.
In addition to the Deauville festival, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year (September 6-15), Mr. Barde is also director of the Gérardmer International Fantastic Film Festival and the Reims Police Film Festival, the 2024 editions of which have already had place.
He is the target of accusations of harassment and sexual assault of seven employees between 2014 and 2023, according to a Mediapart investigation published Wednesday evening.
“If it is true that I have a Latin temperament, that I am an aesthete, who perhaps is too easy to compliment, I have never made a remark with a sexual connotation, nor had the slightest gesture or incitement to sexual or sexist nature towards my colleagues,” defends Mr. Barde, who could not be reached by AFP, to Mediapart.
“And, if anyone may have felt offended, I sincerely apologize,” he adds.
The anonymous testimonies published by Mediapart range from sexist remarks, to a hand under a t-shirt, or even a proposal for a bath with massage.
The Hopscotch communications group told AFP it took these testimonies “very seriously”. He oversees the activities of the Public Système Cinéma agency which manages the organization of festivals as well as press relations.
Bruno Barde, general director of Public Système Cinéma, “was officially excused from activity while he carried out the necessary investigations,” explains Hopscotch, who decided to “mandate an independent organization in order to set up a monitoring and support for employees”.
Hopscotch assures that Bruno Barde will not be director of the Deauville American Film Festival this year.
A new management of Public Système Cinéma “has been approved and will be announced in the coming days,” continues the communications group. A transition management “is put in place with Alexis Delage-Toriel, director of press relations and communications and Jérôme Lasserre, director of programming,” adds Hopscotch.
The communications group affirms that “no report” had “been reported to either the group’s human resources teams or harassment representatives”.
This new case comes at a time when French cinema is in the midst of a new #metoo wave since actress and director Judith Godrèche filed a complaint against directors Benoît Jacquot and Jacques Doillon, for sexual and physical violence dating back to her adolescence.
A commission of inquiry into sexual violence in cinema, audiovisual, performing arts, fashion and advertising began its hearings last month in the National Assembly, giving substance to a request from the actress.
Its work was interrupted by the dissolution of this lower house of parliament, decided last Sunday by Emmanuel Macron, after European elections with disastrous results for the presidential majority.