Roman Polanski: Actress walkout as he wins best director at ‘French Oscars’

Several actresses have walked out of the César awards ceremony in Paris after Roman Polanski, who was convicted of the statutory rape of a 13-year-old in 1977, won best director. The awards – France's equivalent of the Oscars – have been mired in controversy after Polanski's An Officer and a Spy received 12 nominations. Polanski and members of his crew did not attend the event, with the director having said previously that he feared for his safety. The prize for best film was awarded to Les Misérables by director Ladj Ly. 'Disgusted'. Actress Adèle Haenel, who has said she was sexually abused as a child by another director, was one of the women who walked out of the ceremony after Polanski's win was announced. Actress and comedian Florence Foresti, who was presenting at the ceremony, did not return to the stage after Polanski's award was announced. Hours before the ceremony began, France's Culture Minister Franck Riester said it would be "Symbolically bad" if Polanski were to win the prize for best director, "Given the stance we must take against sexual and sexist violence". The decision to honour Polanski at this year's awards had angered feminist groups and led to calls for a boycott. France's equality minister, Marlène Schiappa, had previously condemned the decision to nominate Polanski's film, saying she found it "Impossible that a hall gets up and applauds the film of a man accused of rape several times". Polanski himself told Paris Match in December that he had tried to distance himself from the calls for a boycott of his film. A l'annonce du César de la Meilleure Réalisation pour Roman Polanski, Adèle Haenel quitte la salle. Two months later French former actress Valentine Monnier accused Polanksi of an "Extremely violent" assault and rape in 1975., when she was aged 18, in the latest in a series of sexual assault accusations against the director. This is not the first time the César awards have faced controversy because of Polanski. Polanski has French and Polish citizenship and has evaded various extradition attempts by US authorities. All members who have paid their subscriptions hold a secret online vote to decide which films should be nominated and then ultimately which should win the awards. Source | Summary