More than 80 women in the entertainment industry stage gender equality protest at Cannes

More than 80 women in the entertainment industry brought the #MeToo movement into the spotlight Saturday at France’s annual Cannes Film Festival, Variety reported.

Eighty-two women, including Cate Blanchett, Ava DuVernay and Patty Jenkins, among others, took part in a march for equality at the steps of the Palais, the festival’s central theater, Variety reported.

Blanchett, who serves as this year’s president of the jury, delivered an impassioned speech she co-wrote with French film director Agnes Varda.

“Women are not a minority in the world, yet the current state of the industry stays otherwise,” Blanchett said. “As women, we all face our own unique challenges, but we stand together on these stairs today as a symbol of our determination and commitment to progress.”

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Marion Cotillard, Kristen Stewart, Léa Seydoux and Salma Hayek were among the 82 women — a reference to the total number of female directors who have climbed the Palais’s steps since 1942.

During that time, 1,866 men have climbed the same steps, Blanchett noted.

Blanchett said women in the industry expect transparency, a safe work environment and for governments to ensure equal pay.

“We will demand that our workplaces are diverse and equitable so that they can best reflect the world in which we actually live. A world that allows all of us behind and in front of the camera to thrive shoulder to shoulder with our male colleagues,” Blanchett added.

Only three of this year’s 18 films at the festival were made by women.

Cannes organizers have been criticized for not doing enough to publicly acknowledge the #MeToo and ‘Time’s Up’ movements that have brought to light men’s abuse of power in Hollywood.

Film mogul Harvey Weinstein was accused of sexually harassing women at the famous festival in bombshell allegations that lead to his ouster from Hollywood.