At the 2026 Cannes Film Festival, actress Julianne Moore expressed deep concern over the persistent gap in gender equality. During an award ceremony on May 17, she noted that achieving true equality is still a distant goal.
A Global Challenge Beyond Film
We’re pretty far away, honestly, in lots of the world in terms of real gender equality. It’s not something that is endemic to the film industry. It’s something that’s a global issue.
Julianne Moore, Oscar-winning actress
- Moore received the award for championing women in film.
- The event was held at the historic Place de la Castre, overlooking the French Riviera.
Joined by notable figures such as Daisy Edgar-Jones and Salma Hayek, Moore's remarks highlighted her long-standing commitment to advocating for women's rights in both the film industry and society at large. She compared the struggle for representation to a mouse gnawing through a wall: slowly but surely.
The Women in Motion initiative, established by Kering in 2015, also presented its 50,000-euro award to emerging talent, Italian filmmaker Margherita Spampinato, further emphasizing the festival's role in supporting women in cinema.