This year’s Cannes Film Festival will introduce new rules banning nudity on the red carpet, aiming to preserve decorum and address recent cultural challenges in France.
Decency is set to take center stage at the 78th edition of the prestigious film festival, which kicks off on Tuesday night with stricter dress code regulations to curb provocative and overly revealing outfits.
In recent years, the star-studded event has made headlines less for its cinematic selections and more for the bold fashion choices of its celebrity attendees.
Organizers say the new guidelines are designed to counter the normalization of nudity and overtly sexualized attire—garments that emphasize exposure over coverage. The ban is enforced to “maintain dignity” throughout the festival.
An official document released by Cannes states: “In the interest of preserving decency and decorum, nudity is prohibited on the red carpet and all other festival venues.” It further clarifies that “festival welcome teams are instructed to deny entry to anyone violating these rules.”
The policy is part of a broader “Guest Conduct Charter” outlining behavioral expectations for attendees.
Guests attending premieres at the iconic Lumière Theatre will also face specific dress code requirements, favoring classic elegance over attention-grabbing styles. Acceptable attire includes formal tuxedos, full-length evening gowns, sophisticated blouses, and dress shoes (with or without heels).
The Cannes red carpet, broadcast live on France Télévisions, has increasingly become a hotspot for influencers and models showcasing controversial fashion. In 2021, supermodel Bella Hadid turned heads in a plunging black gown at the premiere of “Three Floors.” Three years later, she sparked another uproar with an inappropriate outfit choice while attending the Donald Trump biopic “The Apprentice.”
The move to impose such restrictions is unusual for a European film festival, reflecting France’s shifting cultural landscape. The decision follows growing scrutiny over toxic sexual behavior in the entertainment industry.
A recent French parliamentary report highlighted widespread moral, gender-based, and sexual violence in the country’s cultural sector. Authored by Green Party MP Sandrine Rousseau, the investigation called for stronger measures against abuse in entertainment.
In response, Cannes officials pledged to adopt the report’s recommendations.
“I want to emphasize that the festival takes the parliamentary commission’s findings on violence in the cultural sector very seriously,” said Cannes president Iris Knobloch during the lineup announcement. “Women are no longer waiting for their rightful place—they are claiming it. We are proud to amplify their voices and spotlight talents that broaden our worldview.”
Rousseau urged Cannes to lead by example, declaring: “This festival must be where attitudes change—where, amid the glitz and red carpet, we loudly proclaim that everyone in this industry demands transformation.”
Founded during World War II as a counter to fascist influence at the Venice Film Festival, Cannes has since become one of the world’s most prestigious cinematic events. This year’s edition features A-listers like Kristen Stewart (“The History of Water”), Scarlett Johansson (“Eleanor the Great”), and Harris Dickinson (“The Hedgehog”) making their directorial debuts in the Un Certain Regard section.
Competing for the Palme d’Or are renowned filmmakers such as Richard Linklater (“The New Wave”), Wes Anderson (“The Phoenician Scheme”), Joachim Trier (“Emotional Value”), Julia Ducournau (“Alpha”), and Sergei Loznitsa (“The Two Prosecutors”).
The jury, chaired by French actress Juliette Binoche—who won Best Actress at Cannes in 2010 for “Certified Copy”—includes stars like Halle Berry, Payal Kapadia, and Jeremy Strong.
The 78th Cannes Film Festival runs from May 13–24, 2025.
— The Independent