The 2025 Cannes Film Festival may still be underway, but the event has already challenged some familiar rules.
The glamorous festival runs from May 13 to 24. It remains one of the most important events on the international cinema calendar.
French actress Juliette Binoche leads this year’s international jury. Actors Halle Berry, Alba Rohrwacher, and Jeremy Strong also serve on the jury.
Cannes has never avoided controversy. The festival often challenges audiences through its film selections.
This year, however, Cannes revived an old dress code. The festival now bans “naked dressing” and oversized outfits at evening screenings.
The rule applies to screenings at the festival’s main venue, the Grand Théâtre Lumière.
‘Decency reasons’
A few days before the festival began, organisers announced the new guidelines.
The statement cited “decency reasons”. It also banned “naked dressing” and “oversized outfits”.
The festival specifically mentioned outfits with large trains. Such designs can block guest traffic and make theatre seating more difficult.
The organisers also encouraged men to choose simpler outfits. Suggested options included tuxedos and dark suits.
However, not everyone followed the new guidelines.
‘Succession’ actor and jury member Jeremy Strong quickly challenged the rule. He arrived on the red carpet in a daring peach tuxedo.
‘Catwoman’ actress Halle Berry also tested the guidelines on the festival’s second day. She walked the red carpet in a voluminous hot pink gown.
Berry had already faced the new rule earlier in the festival.
She planned to wear a Gupta dress at Tuesday’s Opening Ceremony. However, the dress had a train that proved too large.
“I had an amazing dress by Gupta to wear, and I cannot wear it because the train’s too big,” Berry explained during a press conference.
“I had to make a pivot. But the nudity part I do think is probably also a good rule,” she added.
‘Gross’
The new rule quickly sparked fierce online reactions.
Stylist Beyzanur Apaydin criticised the festival’s decision in a tweet.
“They only allow nudity when the industry is profiting from it I guess.
“I understand big gowns and dresses with trains complicate the seating arrangements but why nudity, when it also exists on the screen of the theatre that they will be sitting at?”
Others questioned Cannes over its treatment of controversial personalities.
American actor Ezra Miller appeared unexpectedly on the red carpet. He attended in support of ‘Die My Love’ director Lynne Ramsay.
One user criticised Cannes for allowing Miller to attend while imposing dress rules on women.
“This jerk who physically and verbally assaulted multiple people (…), being allowed to walk the carpet at Cannes, while festival directors have the gall to dictate to women what type of dresses and shoes to wear in the name of decorum, is gross.”
Cannes also made headlines after banning French actor Theo Navarro-Mussy from its red carpet.
The decision followed sexual assault allegations against him.
The move marked a first for the festival. Cannes has allowed controversial actors and directors to attend in the past despite legal controversies.
American actor Johnny Depp and Polish director Roman Polanski remain notable examples.
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