The new director of the Deauville American Film Festival, Aude Hesbert, announces in The Sunday Tribune that trumpeter Ibrahim Maalouf is no longer part of the jury, due to a “malaise in the team” in connection with the #MeToo wave.
“It is not up to me to judge, punish or condemn, but the presence of Ibrahim Maalouf was becoming more and more problematic for the smooth and peaceful running of a festival that is celebrating its 50th anniversary.e anniversary, which is also my first edition and which I wish to carry with clarity and transparency”she said in an interview with the newspaper, before this edition from September 6 to 15.
Ibrahim Maalouf was accused several years ago of sexual assault on a minor, a case in which he was acquitted in 2020.
“A malaise has set in within the team”
Aude Hesbert reports that“When the composition of the jury was announced on August 8, there were many reactions on social networks and in the media, a malaise set in among the team, already bruised by the previous affair”.
She has in fact succeeded Bruno Barde as head of the festival, who stepped down following accusations of sexual assault in Mediapart.
She has “made the difficult decision”that she “will take responsibility until the end to exclude Ibrahim Maalouf from the jury”The director adds that she will “extend (the) work on cinephilia” led by Bruno Barde, “while bringing our DNA and a new form of governance”.
“At the beginning of the festival, we will publish a charter against sexist and sexual violence to avoid all abuses of power, even beyond MeToo. We will be extremely vigilant on these subjects in the future”she promises.