Australian actress Cate Blanchett attended the Kering Women in Motion Talk at the Cannes Film Festival in France, where she emphasized the importance of including the stories of displaced people in the film industry. As a goodwill ambassador for the UN agency for refugees, Blanchett has met with refugees since 2016 and highlighted the incredible and inspiring stories of 114 million displaced individuals around the world due to violence and war. She urged filmmakers to consider portraying these voices in their narratives to avoid alienating them.
Blanchett expressed her bewilderment at the lack of representation of refugee stories in cinema and encouraged filmmakers to work with diverse directors and explore different experiences and perspectives. She criticized the traditional studio system for telling the same stories by the same people, which she believes led to its decline. As a producer herself, Blanchett acknowledged the challenges of pitching unique stories to streaming platforms that may not align with their mandates, emphasizing the need for a more dynamic and inclusive slate of projects.
Despite the progress made in diversifying storytelling in the film industry, Blanchett believes there is still much work to be done in amplifying marginalized voices. She pointed out the need for streamers to embrace a wider range of narratives and break away from the homogeneity that has plagued past storytelling practices. Blanchett’s remarks at the Cannes Film Festival underscore the industry’s ongoing efforts to broaden representation and shed light on important social issues through the power of storytelling.
Blanchett’s presence at the festival coincided with the premiere of “Rumours,” a film that follows the world’s wealthiest liberal democracies’ leaders as they navigate their way through the woods while trying to draft a joint statement. The film’s out-of-competition screening further highlights the diverse range of stories being showcased at Cannes and the potential for cinema to engage with timely and thought-provoking themes. Blanchett’s advocacy for inclusivity and representation serves as a reminder of the transformative impact that storytelling can have in fostering empathy and understanding across different backgrounds and experiences.
Overall, Blanchett’s remarks at the Cannes Film Festival shed light on the importance of including diverse voices, especially those of displaced individuals, in the film industry. By encouraging filmmakers to explore new perspectives and embrace a wider range of stories, Blanchett champions a more inclusive and dynamic approach to storytelling. As the industry continues to evolve, Blanchett’s advocacy for marginalized voices serves as a catalyst for change and a reminder of the power of storytelling to bridge divides and promote empathy and understanding.
