As part of its sponsorship at this year’s American Pavilion at the 75^th Cannes Film Festival, The Hollywood Foreign Press Association (“HFPA”) announced one of its panels will feature all women in focusing on “Global Voices: Empowering Women Behind the Lens” on Tuesday, May 24, 2022, at 1:00 PM (local time).

“This year we assembled a dynamic panel featuring four women who are showing their work at Cannes for the first time. We want to highlight their accomplishments and focus attention on their work to empower more women for important roles behind the camera,” said Helen Hoehne, President of the HFPA. “The HFPA is committed to supporting more opportunities to showcase the contributions women are making around the world and the need to keep driving for more access and inclusion in key roles in the entertainment industry.”

The panel will be held at The American Pavilion, the center of the American film industry at the international film festival. This year’s panel features (all times local):

• Céline Devaux, French film director whose first feature film “Everybody Loves Jeanne” makes its debut at Cannes. Written by Devaux, the story revolves around Jeanne who was loved by everyone when she was young. Now, at 40 years of age, Jeanne despises herself. Drowning in debt, she must travel to Lisbon to sell the apartment which belonged to her mother who died two years previously because of Jeanne. On the way, she meets Jean, who was at high school with her and refuses to leave her alone.
• Eléonore Gurrey, French actress and screenwriter, who co-wrote the script for “The Worst Ones” centers around a film shoot taking place at the cité Picasso, in the suburbs of Boulogne-Sur-Mer, in the north of France. During the casting, four teenagers, Lily, Ryan, Maylis, and Jessy, are chosen to play in the film. Everyone in the neighborhood is surprised: why only take the “worst ones”?
• Emily Atef, French-Iranian film director, whose fifth feature film “More Than Ever” stars Vicky Krieps and Gaspard Uliel as Hélène and Mathieu who have been happy together for many years. The bond between them is deep. Faced with an existential decision, Hélène travels alone to Norway to seek peace, an act that will test the strength of their love.
• Maryam Touzani, Moroccan filmmaker, whose film “The Blue Caftan” debuts on May 26 at 11:00 AM at Salle Debussy. The film centers on Mina and Halim, a married couple running a traditional caftan store in one of Morocco’s oldest medinas. In order to keep up with the demand, they hire Youssef, a talented apprentice whom Halim takes under his wing, and starts teaching the art of embroidery and tailoring. Slowly, Mina realizes how much her husband is moved by the presence of the young man.

The panel will be moderated by HFPA President Helen Hoehne.

About the American Pavilion:

The American Pavilion, celebrating its 33rd year as the epicenter of American hospitality and communication at the Cannes International Film Festival, brings together both professional and emerging filmmakers along with industry executives from across the globe. A much sought-after destination for information, orientation, and recreation, it accommodates the needs of its members, guests, and sponsors in a dynamic business environment. With its impressive array of amenities and services, AmPav provides an opportunity to relax in very comfortable surroundings.

The American Pavilion boasts the In Conversation and Industry in Focus both of which take place in the Roger Ebert Conference Center, which offer insightful and provocative panel discussions and in-conversations with filmmakers, talent and top leaders; a restaurant and bar that provide fast service with a smile throughout the day and is open to all festival badge holders after 6:00pm most evenings; a coffee bar; free WiFi and charging stations; a media terrace with a panoramic view of the Riviera; the Emerging Filmmaker Showcase; the Culinary Program featuring chefs from across the US and Canada; The American Pavilion Worldwide Student Program; and public and private rental for parties and receptions. The American Pavilion is part of Penske Media Corporation.