Reactions against Roman Polanski in the upcoming Cesar Awards

Stone of the scandal of his appointment as president of the ceremony of the French Academy…
The feminist organization d’Osez le Feminisme is planning to demonstrate at the upcoming Cesar Awards after the appointment of Roman Polanski as the president of the ceremony. As explained in the notice of the organization, the appointment of the director is an insult to the victim of rape and sexual violence, while stressing that many continue to support the Polanski as a filmmaker. The organization responds that “the quality of the film has little to do with the crime he committed, his flight and refusal to take responsibility”.
The Polanski he’s still wanted by the American authorities for the rape of a 13-year-old girl in 1977. The director pleaded guilty, but fled to France before sentencing. France has no extradition agreement with the US, while in 2016, the Supreme Court of Poland, home of Polanski, has made a determination prohibiting the publication in America. The organization d’Osez le Feminisme has set up a campaign in the Change.org having collected over 58,000 signatures. “With the selection of the Academy was revealed as a deeply conservative organisation with regard to women’s rights”, they underline in their statement, the protesters. “The choice testifies, on behalf of those who have decided to appoint [Polanski] president of the Cesars, the disregard for the facts. For the organisers it is not a great fact that Roman Polanksi is being prosecuted in the United States and has committed the rape of a 13-year-old child,” concluded the organisation in its communication.
For its part, the French Minister of Culture Audrey Azoulay has maintained a neutral stance, commenting that the French Academy is an independent body and that the case of Polanski it concerns a period of more than 40 years ago. “The case will continue to prosecute Roman Polanski for the rest of his life. However, it remains a filmmaker with an extraordinary talent who has been honored since with many awards Cesar. This is the issue in the selection of the Academy”, said the minister. As chairman of the ceremony, Polanski will declare the official start of the awards with a speech, before delivering the lead to the hosts. This year’s Cesars will take place on 24 February.
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