The Académie des César announced on Thursday July 9th that it had adopted a broad reform of its statutes which notably emphasizes equality between men and women, five months after an unprecedented crisis in French cinema and the collective resignation of its leaders.

The new statutes include a flagship measure: the presidency of the Cesars will henceforth be ensured by a "tandem" of both sexes. "Full parity" must also be strictly observed in the general assembly of the association, its board of directors and its office. All for two-year terms, renewable once. 

Simplified operation

Up to now opaque and based on cooptation, the operation of the Caesars has been greatly simplified. The 4,313 members of the Academy, these personalities and professionals of the 7th art who award the most coveted awards of French cinema, will now be able to introduce themselves and elect their representatives for four years in the association that organizes the ceremony.

These new elected officials will join the French professionals who won an Oscar, who were already ex-officio members, as well as other former members who will request, by the end of July, to keep their seats.

These elections, crucial for turning the page on an institution accused of opacity and self-esteem by many film personalities, should take place before the beginning of September.

A joint "tandem" at the head 

When these new bodies are set up, the new leaders will have to tackle a second task: to strengthen "the parity, the diversity and the representativeness" of the Academy of Caesar itself, quickly enough to be able to organize the edition 2021. A new president will also have to be elected to take over from Margaret Menegoz. In the midst of a crisis, she had succeeded producer Alain Terzian, whose governance was criticized after 17 years at the helm.

With this reform, the Academy takes a first step to save the institution, which appears to be out of step with the stakes that stir the cinema, in France and beyond.

The 45th Cesar ceremony, organized two weeks after the resignation of the Academy's leadership, took place in a context of great tension, marked by feminist demonstrations and the departure from the hall of actress Adèle Haenel when Roman Polanski, accused of rape accusations, was awarded in his absence the prize for best achievement.

 With AFP 

The France 24 week summary invites you to come back to the news that marked the week

I subscribe

Take international news everywhere with you! Download the France 24 app

google-play-badge_FR