Women's rights activists protested Friday outside a Paris concert hall where France's film academy is presenting its version of the Oscars and director Roman Polanski's latest film is up for the most awards.
Polanski decided to skip the Cesar awards ceremony because of earlier protests by women's groups denouncing the 12 nominations “An Officer and a Spy” received after a French woman brought a new rape accusation against him.
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Women's rights activists protested Friday outside a Paris concert hall where France's film academy is presenting its version of the Oscars and director Roman Polanski's latest film is up for the most awards.
The entire male-dominated leadership of the Cesars stepped down recently amid a spat over its byzantine decision-making structure and over how to deal with the Polanski problem.
Last year, a woman came forward to accuse Polanski of raping her in 1975 in his Swiss chalet when she was 18. Polanski denied it, and the allegations are too old for an investigation.
Celine Piques, right, and Alix Chazeaux-Guibert, from women's activist group "Osons le Feminisme" prepare posters in Paris, Thursday, Feb.27, 2020. French women's rights activists prepare to protest Friday against multiple nominations for Roman Polanski at the Cesar Awards ceremony, France's equivalent of the Oscars. This year's Cesars have been shaken by boycott calls since the nominations for Polanski's "An Officer and a Spy," because a French woman recently accused Polanski of raping her in the 1970s, which he denies. (AP PhotoFrancois Mori)
Celine Piques, from women's activist group "Osons le Feminisme" answers the Associated Press in Paris, Thursday, Feb.27, 2020. French women's rights activists prepare to protest Friday against multiple nominations for Roman Polanski at the Cesar Awards ceremony, France's equivalent of the Oscars. This year's Cesars have been shaken by boycott calls since the nominations for Polanski's "An Officer and a Spy," because a French woman recently accused Polanski of raping her in the 1970s, which he denies. Poster plays with the French word for rape and the name of Roman Polanski. (AP PhotoFrancois Mori)
FILE - In this May 2, 2018 file photo, director Roman Polanski appears at an international film festival, where he promoted his latest film, "Based on a True Story," in Krakow, Poland. Filmmaker Roman Polanski is skipping the French equivalent of the Oscars - where his latest movie leads this year's nominations - because of protests prompted by a new rape accusation against him. (AP Photo, File)
Women activists from women's activist group "Osons le Feminisme" demonstrate outside the venue of the Cesar awards ceremony, the French equivalent of the Oscar, Friday,Feb. 28, 2020 in Paris. French women's rights activists protest against multiple nominations for Roman Polanski at the Cesar Awards ceremony. This year's Cesars have been shaken by boycott calls since the nominations for Polanski's "An Officer and a Spy," because a French woman recently accused Polanski of raping her in the 1970s, which he denies. Poster reads Viloanski, playing with the French word for rape and Polanski. (AP PhotoRafael Yaghobzadeh)
A few hundred protesters brandishing signs with phrases such as “Victims, we believe you” and “No to impunity" assembled outside the Salle Pleyel hall before the ceremony started. The group chanted, “We are here, we are here, even if Polanski doesn't want to, we are here."
Women demonstrate outside the venue of the Cesar awards ceremony, the French equivalent of the Oscar, Friday,Feb. 28, 2020 in Paris. French women's rights activists protest against multiple nominations for Roman Polanski at the Cesar Awards ceremony. Poster at right reads "I accuse Violanski", playing withe French word for rape and the name Polanski. (AP PhotoRafael Yaghobzadeh)
The entire male-dominated leadership of the Cesars stepped down recently amid a spat over its byzantine decision-making structure and over how to deal with the Polanski problem.
In a statement this week, the Paris-based Polanski, 86, said the ceremony was turning into a “public lynching" and that he decided not to attend the ceremony to protect his colleagues and his wife and children.
Polanski is still wanted in the United States decades after he was charged with raping a 13-year-old girl in 1977. He pleaded guilty to unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor but fled the country on the eve of sentencing.
Women activists from women's activist group "Osons le Feminisme" demonstrate outside the venue of the Cesar awards ceremony, the French equivalent of the Oscar, Friday,Feb. 28, 2020 in Paris. French women's rights activists protest against multiple nominations for Roman Polanski at the Cesar Awards ceremony. (AP PhotoRafael Yaghobzadeh)
Last year, a woman came forward to accuse Polanski of raping her in 1975 in his Swiss chalet when she was 18. Polanski denied it, and the allegations are too old for an investigation.
But the accusation put the director under fresh scrutiny in France, where he has long been revered as one of the country's premier filmmakers despite the outstanding rape charge in the U.S. Other accusations have also emerged.
“An Officer and a Spy” is about the anti-Semitic persecution of French army Capt. Alfred Dreyfus and his wrongful treason conviction in the 1890s. It is among the best film nominees. Polanski has nominations for best adaptation and best director.
Women activists from women's activist group "Osons le Feminisme" demonstrate with posters reading "Stop rape", left, "I believe you, it's not you", center, and "Stop patriarchy" outside the venue of the Cesar awards ceremony, the French equivalent of the Oscar, Friday,Feb. 28, 2020 in Paris. French women's rights activists protest against multiple nominations for Roman Polanski at the Cesar Awards ceremony. (AP PhotoRafael Yaghobzadeh)
Celine Piques, right, and Alix Chazeaux-Guibert, from women's activist group "Osons le Feminisme" prepare posters in Paris, Thursday, Feb.27, 2020. French women's rights activists prepare to protest Friday against multiple nominations for Roman Polanski at the Cesar Awards ceremony, France's equivalent of the Oscars. This year's Cesars have been shaken by boycott calls since the nominations for Polanski's "An Officer and a Spy," because a French woman recently accused Polanski of raping her in the 1970s, which he denies. (AP PhotoFrancois Mori)
Celine Piques, from women's activist group "Osons le Feminisme" answers the Associated Press in Paris, Thursday, Feb.27, 2020. French women's rights activists prepare to protest Friday against multiple nominations for Roman Polanski at the Cesar Awards ceremony, France's equivalent of the Oscars. This year's Cesars have been shaken by boycott calls since the nominations for Polanski's "An Officer and a Spy," because a French woman recently accused Polanski of raping her in the 1970s, which he denies. Poster plays with the French word for rape and the name of Roman Polanski. (AP PhotoFrancois Mori)
FILE - In this May 2, 2018 file photo, director Roman Polanski appears at an international film festival, where he promoted his latest film, "Based on a True Story," in Krakow, Poland. Filmmaker Roman Polanski is skipping the French equivalent of the Oscars - where his latest movie leads this year's nominations - because of protests prompted by a new rape accusation against him. (AP Photo, File)
Women activists from women's activist group "Osons le Feminisme" demonstrate outside the venue of the Cesar awards ceremony, the French equivalent of the Oscar, Friday,Feb. 28, 2020 in Paris. French women's rights activists protest against multiple nominations for Roman Polanski at the Cesar Awards ceremony. This year's Cesars have been shaken by boycott calls since the nominations for Polanski's "An Officer and a Spy," because a French woman recently accused Polanski of raping her in the 1970s, which he denies. Poster reads Viloanski, playing with the French word for rape and Polanski. (AP PhotoRafael Yaghobzadeh)