The Cannes Film Festival is known for showcasing the best of international cinema. However, the festival recently became the site of a political protest staged by a Ukrainian model and influencer. Kinsey Wolanski took to the red carpet of the festival wearing a blue and yellow dress, the colours of the Ukrainian flag, to bring attention to Russia’s aggression towards Ukraine. Wolanski made headlines as she walked the red carpet and then broke two packets of fake blood over her head just before entering the theatre to watch one of the films screened at the festival. It is not clear whether the Ukrainian model intended to target the film or if she wanted to raise awareness of the ongoing situation in Ukraine.
The protest was a dramatic expression of a conflict that has been simmering for nearly a decade. Russian forces annexed Crimea from Ukraine in 2014, and the conflict escalated into a full-blown war. Over 13,000 people have died, and fighting continues on both sides. Ukraine has accused Russia of supporting pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine, an allegation that Russia denies.
Wolanski’s protest at Cannes is just the latest in a series of demonstrations against Russia’s actions in Ukraine. In 2020, Ukrainian filmmakers held up banners at the festival alleging Russian genocide, and in 2022 a protester appeared topless with blue and yellow body paint, representing the colours of the Ukrainian flag.
The Ukrainian model’s protest also drew attention to the continued controversy surrounding the Cannes Film Festival. Last year, the festival banned Russian-state-media-affiliated outlets from covering the event. The ban reportedly came after the festival received pressure from the Ukrainian government, which accused Russia of sponsoring terrorism and aggression. This year, the festival opened with the film Jeanne du Barry, a historical drama that stars actor Johnny Depp, who recently won a defamation trial against his ex-wife Amber Heard.
Wolanski’s protest was not the only political demonstration at Cannes this year. French workers went on strike to protest proposed pension changes, and feminist activists disrupted the red carpet for the film ‘Homecoming’, claiming that surrogacy is “rooted in capitalist ideology as well as in the international human trafficking market.”
Despite the controversies, Cannes remains one of the world’s most prestigious film festivals, showcasing the latest in international cinema and attracting some of the biggest names in Hollywood and international cinema. Director of the festival, Thierry Fremaux, said before the event that the festival stood in solidarity with Ukraine. French actress Catherine Deneuve, who attended the festival’s opening ceremony, paid tribute to the victims of the war by reciting the poem ‘Hope’ by Lesya Ukrainka, the Ukrainian poet.
In conclusion, protests at the Cannes Film Festival have become a common occurrence in the last few years. The festival has become a battleground for political and social issues, with demonstrators from various groups using the global platform to raise awareness of their causes. Kinsey Wolanski’s protest highlighted the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia and drew attention to the controversy surrounding the festival. Despite the controversies, Cannes remains an important cultural event that showcases the best of international cinema.
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