CANNES, France — Members of the cast and crew of Brazilian film “Aquarius”, which premiered in the main competition at the Cannes Film Festival on Tuesday, staged a protest in support of President Dilma Rousseff on the red carpet.
Brazil’s Senate voted last Thursday to put leftist Rousseff on trial for breaking budget laws, automatically suspending her from office for up to 180 days as the trial takes place. Rousseff denies wrongdoing and says she is the victim of a coup.
As they reached the top of the steps of the red carpet at the Palais des Festivals main building, director Kleber Mendonca Filho and his team unveiled protest signs.
Mendonca Filho’s read: “Un coup d’Etat a eu lieu au Bresil” (A coup has been staged in Brazil). Other members of the cast and crew also held signs, with one saying: “54,501,118 votes set on fire”.
They were escorted into the building by festival director Thierry Fremaux without further incident.
JULIEN PRETOT