“We assume our choices”, replies Thierry Frémaux about the controversies surrounding the Cannes Film Festival

The general delegate of the Cannes Film Festival responds Tuesday, May 16 on France Inter to the controversies while the festival opens its doors this Tuesday evening. “We assume our choices”answers Thierry Frémaux, whereas must be projected in opening Jeanne du Barry, a film in which Johnny Depp plays Louis XV. The actor has been absent from the American sets since accusations of domestic violence and then mutual accusations of defamation with his former wife Amber Heard. Also a choice “assumed” about the maintenance of the film in competition The return by Catherine Corsini, despite accusations of moral harassment and a sex scene with a minor denied by the director.

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Regarding Johnny Depp, Thierry Frémaux assures: “Frankly, I was not aware of all that (…) and it was the film that was chosen”. The general delegate of the Cannes Film Festival affirms that“we remain somewhat within the framework of the law: if ever the film had been banned then we would not have defied any ban whatsoever”.

“As for Catherine Corsini’s ‘Return’, it’s a fairly complex story all the same”explains Thierry Frémaux. “I don’t know what could have happened on this shoot, not as much as we said, we are still between the witchcraft trial and the rumor of Orleans”. The general delegate of the Cannes Film Festival indicates that he has “a week-long investigation”. “I told the production and the director: ‘defend yourself because we’re going to get your accusers’, and we asked the accusers who we don’t know, who haven’t come forward, to do… Well, so I think everything will be fine, the film is very, very good”concludes Thierry Frémaux.