Film exec accused of sexual assault

CANNES, France (AFP) — A vice president of one of the parallel film events at the Cannes Festival was suspended Thursday after being publicly denounced for sexual violence, witnesses and organizers told Agence France-Presse (AFP).

During a roundtable discussion about sexual assault organized by France’s film board, a woman stood up and publicly denounced an executive from the ACID Cannes film section.

“The young woman acted with great courage and was immediately taken care of by charities present,” Erwan Balanant, a French member of parliament (MP) who was in the room, told AFP.

It came as the main Cannes Festival barred a French actor from the premiere Thursday of a film in the running for the Palme d’Or top prize because he has been accused of rape by three former partners.

The ACID Cannes event is not part of the official festival, but runs at the same time and has some organizational links.