In Cannes, an indigenous filmmaker turned away for his traditional moccasins

In Cannes, the rise of the famous steps is at the heart of a controversy.

Native American filmmaker Kelvin Redvers said he was recently refused entry to the red carpet of the 75th edition of the Festival because he was wearing moccasins, traditional shoes that he was later able to put on.

“I grew up with my culture and moccasins are important.

I understand that there are certain rules regarding dress code on the red carpet so I thought if I wore a tuxedo, a bow tie, and a piece that showed I was Native, that would be okay," said director Déné, originally from the Northwest Territories, on the CBC channel on Saturday.

"In many cultures in Canada, moccasins are very much considered traditional and formal clothing," he said.

“Hard to digest things like that”

Kelvin Redvers had traveled to France with a delegation of indigenous filmmakers and was invited to the preview of the film

by Franco-Italian actress Valeria Bruni Tedeschi, screened on May 22.

Officials from the festival's security service, however, blocked his access, told the director in several major media.

He was then allowed to return to the red carpet in different shoes.

“It's hard to digest things like that.

Even now when I think about it, it upsets me.

I was disappointed, angry, ”he explained, on his return to Vancouver.

Kelvin Redvers further said he's been "excited for a while" about being able to wear his brown loafers, which were made by his sister.

A Dene filmmaker says he was turned away from the red carpet at the Cannes Film Festival because he was wearing moccasins.

Kelvin Redvers says he hopes the incident is a learning moment for event organizers.https://t.co/96ygU5jzAT

— CBC British Columbia (@cbcnewsbc) May 28, 2022

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The organizers have since however done everything to make up for this oddity.

In the hours following the incident, the director said he met with senior festival officials, who apologized and invited him to wear the loafers on the red carpet during the presentation of

by David Cronenberg, Monday.

This week, the filmmaker further said on Facebook that he hopes this incident will send a message "around the world that traditional indigenous clothing is completely acceptable in formal settings like the red carpet".

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• Culture

• Cannes Film Festival 2022

• Canada

• Indigenous

• Shoe

• Tradition