INTERVIEW
The crisis is raging on the Caesars. In a column published on Monday evening on the site of the World , more than 200 personalities of French cinema including Omar Sy, Bertrand Tavernier, Céline Sciamma or Agnès Jaoui denounced the opacity and the lack of democracy within the Académie des César, calling for a deep reform. Director Michel Hazanavicius, one of the signatories, explains on Europe 1 the reasons for this discomfort.
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"There are 4,700 members of the Academy who have no say in all of the decisions that are made. It is not a neighborhood association, it is a big machine that is our showcase", laments the filmmaker. "The idea is to put the Caesar Academy on the same operating mode as all the other academies like the Oscars or the Bafta. It is certainly not the most urgent fight, but there have been dysfunctions that have revealed discomfort in many people. "
"The board of directors is completely closed"
The Academy of Caesar, already shaken by the controversy Roman Polanski, who came first in the nominations for the next ceremony despite accusations of rape, is this time strongly criticized from the inside. At the heart of criticism: an operation deemed "closed." "The 4,700 people could vote to have representatives on the board of directors. However, today, the board of directors is completely closed, the only ones who can return are those who have an Oscar", deplores Michel Hazanavicius, himself even an Oscar winner for his film The Artist in 2012.
At present, the Caesar's board of directors is made up of the founding members, former presidents or members of the association. "There would be more transparency and fluidity in all decision-making, such as the conduct of the ceremony, to which we will give an honorary Caesar ...", continues Michel Hazanavicius.
"We are talking about a structural change"
The Academy of Caesar reacted by promising to appoint a mediator, "in charge of a profound reform of the statutes and governance of the Academy". Alain Terzian, president of the César, had promised a few days ago to establish parity within the college of voters. "It is not only about parity, it is very good but it is not by bringing in women that the problems will change. We are talking about a structural change. The idea is to align the Caesar on other comparable academies ", concludes the director.