The 2023 Oscars ceremony in France will not allow anyone who is potentially facing a prison sentence for sexual assault.
César Awards announced that it was acting out of respect for any potential victims.
It denotes that French actor Sofiane Bennacer, who is being investigated for alleged rape and denies it, will not be attending the ceremony.
It comes after an outcry in 2020 when Roman Polanski won the best director despite being sought in the US for statutory rape.
The César Academy, which hands out the awards, took Mr. Bennacer from the list of nominees in November and announced it was thinking about changing the rules on eligibility.
It has since declared that anyone under investigation for a severe offense carrying a prison sentence, particularly one with a sexual component, will be prohibited from attending this year’s ceremony on February 25.
Anyone who has been convicted of such an offense is likewise subject to the rule.
The Academy will decide whether to make the eligibility requirements permanent.
It was stated in a statement that this included “presumed” victims in cases that were still under investigation. “Out of respect for the victims… it has been decided not to highlight people who may have been implicated by the judiciary in acts of violence,” the statement read.
The Academy is still being held accountable for allegations of sexual assault in the film business.
