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# Cannes Film Festival Steps Into Controversy Over High Heels-Only Policy

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_Published 2012-05-17. TIME movie critic, Richard Corliss lists his top films of the millennium (Thus Far). For the full, list go to time.com/entertainment_


by 

[Maya Rhodan](https://time.com/author/maya-rhodan/)


## Maya Rhodan


May 19, 2015 1:12 PM UTC

![Benicio del Toro, Emily Blunt and Josh Brolin pose for photographers during a photo call for the film Sicario, at the 68th international film festival, Cannes, France](https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blte43aec3266e94109/69884eba3c16396c65457bce/emily-blunt-benico-del-toro-josh-brolin-cannes-france.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=3:2)

Benicio del Toro, Emily Blunt and Josh Brolin pose for photographers during a photo call for the film Sicario, at the 68th international film festival, Cannes, France, on May 19, 2015.

Benicio del Toro, Emily Blunt and Josh Brolin pose for photographers during a photo call for the film Sicario, at the 68th international film festival, Cannes, France, on May 19, 2015.Joel Ryan—Invision/AP

by 

[Maya Rhodan](https://time.com/author/maya-rhodan/)


## Maya Rhodan


May 19, 2015 1:12 PM UTC

The Cannes Film Festival is facing backlash after several women reported that they were stopped from entering screenings for wearing the wrong shoes.

[_Screen Daily_](http://www.screendaily.com/festivals/cannes/cannes-women-denied-palais-entry-for-wearing-flats/5088395.article) reports the women were turned away from a screening of _Carol_ in their rhinestone flat shoes, even though some of the women reportedly suffered from unspecified medical conditions and couldn’t wear heels. According to the [_Guardian_](http://www.theguardian.com/film/2015/may/19/cannes-backlash-high-heels-emily-blunt-flat-shoes), festival-goers are to be “smartly dressed” at Cannes screenings—men are required to wear black tie and shoes, but the guidelines for women are murkier.

_Amy_ director Asif Kapadia said his wife was even initially turned away from a screening for wearing flat shoes, though she was eventually let in.

> [](https://twitter.com/asifkapadia/status/600549420766273536)

Many are calling the alleged rule sexist. Actress Emily Blunt said in a press conference on Tuesday that all women should wear flats, adding that a heels-only dress code for women would be “very disappointing, just when you kind of think there are these new waves of equality.” Benico del Toro and Josh Brolin also [joked](https://twitter.com/nigelmfs/status/600597601810051072) that they should wear heels in protest.

Cannes director Thierry Fremaux [tweeted](https://twitter.com/THIERRYFREMAUX/status/600595653606187008), however, that the heels-only rule was “unfounded,” despite the women’s reports.

Cannes Film Festival Faces Backlash Over High-Heel Only Shoe Policy

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