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AP ImagesThe Hollywood Reporter is teaming with luxury goods giant Kering to host a series of “Women in Motion” talks at the 68th Cannes Film Festival.
Salma Hayek, Isabella Rossellini, Frances McDormand, Iranian actress-singer Golshifteh Farahani, producer Christine Vachon and French writer and director Claire Denis are among the film-world luminaries who will participate in the inaugural series, which kicks off May 14. The one-hour discussions aim to shine a light on women and the film industry, covering a range of issues including female representation within the profession and onscreen, the specific nature of women’s narrative points of view, perspectives behind the camera and global impact on storytelling.
Each of the one-hour talks will be moderated by one of THR‘s top editors — including president and chief creative officer Janice Min — and will conclude with an open Q&A. The first talk features a conversation with Rossellini and French producer Claudie Ossard, moderated by THR executive editor Matthew Belloni. The actress-director, who has starred in such iconic films as Taylor Hackford’s White Nights, David Lynch’s Blue Velvet and Robert Zemeckis’ Death Becomes Her, is also in Cannes as president of the Un Certain Regard jury. Ossard is a heavyweight in the French film industry, having produced such female-driven classics as Jean-Jacques Beineix‘s Betty Blue and Jean-Pierre Jeunet‘s Amelie, the latter of which was one of the biggest box-office successes of all time for a French export.
“With the topic of female representation in front of and behind the cameras a topic making so many headlines today, I’m thrilled to give a platform to some of the most interesting voices to join and further the conversation,” said Min. “The Hollywood Reporter is thrilled to partner with these groundbreaking women, and Kering, a company at the forefront of women’s rights and empowerment, as we bring the magic of the Cannes Film Festival to our global audience.”
Kering, the parent company of such luxury brands as Gucci, Bottega Veneta, Alexander McQueen and Balenciaga, has long been an active supporter of women’s causes, notably through the Kering Corporate Foundation, chaired by Kering CEO Francois-Henri Pinault. Since its creation in 2009, the Kering Foundation has been promoting women’s dignity and rights all over the world and has worked to fight violence against women. The Kering Foundation also is a partner of the Chime for Change campaign, launched by Gucci to empower women and girls around the world.
“Women’s point of view is absolutely essential to cinema and for us all. As such, it needs to be more visible,” said Louise Beveridge, senior vp communications at Kering. “We’re honored to partner with The Hollywood Reporter for the first edition of our ‘Women in Motion’ talks and to bring broader visibility to the female visionaries and talents of the film industry.”
Kering is in the first year of a five-year deal as the official partner of Cannes.
The Hollywood Reporter has taken a leadership role in covering women’s creative and business impact in the entertainment industry with its annual Women in Entertainment issue and its transformative mentorship program that pairs Hollywood’s top female leaders with high school girls in Los Angeles’ most challenged communities.
Each “Women in Motion” talk will air on THR.com and on Kering’s digital platform.
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