Festival workers at Cannes showed support for a group called Sous les écrans la dèche collective, which is planning a strike before this year’s festival.
On Sunday, May 12, festival workers gathered for a pre-festival event where they usually meet the organizers and have a casual get-together. This time, the workers turned it into a rally in support of Sous les écrans la dèche collective. This group wants freelance workers to go on strike to disrupt this year’s festival.
During the event, the members of Sous les écrans handed out badges and stickers to show support for their cause. They are concerned about the unstable job situation for freelance workers at the festival. These workers often have short-term contracts and aren’t covered by France’s unemployment benefits.
New labor laws in France will make it even harder for these workers to get benefits starting July 1. The collective wants the festival to change freelance contracts so these workers can qualify for benefits. They also want these changes to apply retroactively for the past 18 months of festival work.
Over 400 filmmakers and industry figures, including actors like Swann Arlaud and Louis Garrell, have signed a petition supporting Sous les écrans la dèche collective.
The Cannes festival organizers say they are willing to talk with the group and hope to avoid a strike through dialogue. They plan to discuss the issue further on Monday, just before the festival starts on Tuesday, May 14.