2013-05-20T23:07:57-04:00 Laetitia Belmadani http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/author/index.php?author=laetitia-belmadani Copyright 2008, HuffingtonPost.com, Inc. HuffingtonPost Blogger Feed for Laetitia Belmadani Good old fashioned elbow grease. tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2012:/theblog//3.1548646 2012-05-27T08:17:48-04:00 2012-05-27T13:27:21-04:00

Laetitia Belmadani http://www.huffingtonpost.com/laetitia-belmadani/ I wondered why and delved right into the history of this mythical film festival, known to love the odd flirt with controversy.

The start of its 65th anniversary, was marked by a rapidly quenched imbroglio surrounding the official selection of the festival sporting no female directing talent.
Many conversations with directors, producers and actors later, I came to think that the film industry as a whole is much more programmed to relish in what women bring in acting talent, glamour and beauty but less so drawn to what their pretty little heads may produce deemed worthy of the silver screen.

In 1946 while rather dashing, established chaps like Billy Wilder and Roberto Rosselini swept the awards away, a portuguese actress-turned-director, a bona fide pioneer who went by the name of Barbara Virginia, presented her first and only film at this first Cannes edition.
47 years later in 1993, Australian-born Jane Campion went on to become the Festival's legendary "only" female in 65 years of international film festing, to ever walk away with the coveted Palme d'Or for her masterpiece "The Piano".

As a director I think it is a delicate line, advocating for the inclusion of women in a world not inclined to do so, while also thinking that an industry as important as the film industry is in utter need to keep the next generation of Ava Gardner's, Greta Garbo's and Gina Lollobrigida's coming.
Just as much as the James Dean's and the Gregory Peck's of course. Although our male counterparts' place behind or before the camera is never put into question.
They can comfortably be on either side without their relevance constantly being measured in correlation to their gender.
It led me to think that the film industry is nothing without its illustrious screen royalty who have been adulated the world over, and with their star quality made cinema that which it always aspired to be: a dream, a myth, a parallel reality.
I was at first rather taken aback by the statement released in response to the controversy by mistress of ceremonies' Berenice Bejo, who gained worldwide fame after her performance in "The Artist". According to Bejo, women mostly dream of swanning around the red carpet escorted by a masterpiece producing director and likened the gender imbalance of the film profession to the nursing profession, where the overwhelming majority are women, and thus relegating the latter to being better suited to care positions. I thought it unjust to speak for all women, including those who are creating, budgeting, thinking, trying and dreaming to get their film projects assembled with the hope to one day see them come to life.

While rubbing shoulders with Hollywood's legendary merchant prince Harvey Weinstein, and catching up with Lebanese grand music talent Khaled Mouzanar, out on the Croisette the crowds are undeterred by the incessant rain. Though I am unashamed to admit to have been put off by the prospect of making a spectacle of myself gowned and high-heeled on a rain-drenched red carpet, surrounded by hundreds of photographers from around the world dying to immortalise every slip up.

I conclude with a mental note to self as this 65th edition draws to its end; sending one's film in while changing one's first name to John, Miguel or Roberto may just get you that extra credit to be selected. Once in a blue moon miracles do happen, and when they do, you might want to be prepared to knock on Tom Ford's door for a tuxedo fitting and say bye bye to your dream of ascending the famous steps in a beautiful Elie Saab.
After all, even L'Oreal, Cannes premier sponsor says it: We're worth it. All of it.
So we better start believing it.]]> tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2012:/theblog//3.1330810 2012-03-08T08:18:49-05:00 2012-03-08T08:57:25-05:00

Laetitia Belmadani http://www.huffingtonpost.com/laetitia-belmadani/ Lili's Journey which sets out to celebrate women's passion and determination, I have encountered countless women the world over.

From those who have secured the most enviable places at the top, to those who, try as they might, set out to vehemently shake society at its grassroots.

If I had a tribune I'd proclaim loud and clear, it is time women started to be viewed with different spectacles.

And that while some of us might ruffle some feathers along the way when speaking up about the women's cause, most of us don't aspire to take the place of men.

Though interestingly, at the World Economic Forum last January, Archbishop Desmond Tutu staunchly begged to differ.

In a conversation with Professor Klaus Schwab, he vividly shook the audience with his bold stance on the need for women's leadership in order to ensure a just, a more equitable world.

I am nonetheless compelled by the fact that though many set out with the most magnanimous task to empower women, as outlined in a compelling article in the Guardian this week by Andrea Cornwall, donor policies are yet to succeed in bringing real and sustained change for women.

But for me, this International Women's Day is not a day of breaking my maxed-out brain drive, over the critical synergies needed, in order to drive change for women in a more sustainable and effective way across the golden triangle of corporates, civil society and governments.

No, rather, this International Women's Day is one to celebrate 2 years of working and wandering around the world making Lili's Journey with the most amazing co-pilot, who also happens to be my sister.

The city of Paris being the quintessential place to rejoice in the contribution of women in the world of arts, the Victor Hugo museum in the Marais is holding a special tribute to portrayals of women in literature.

In these cynical times of late when even the most horrendous rapper lyrics, outright incitations to violence against women, receive the coveted "Victoire de la Musique" I seek refuge in the beauty of men who have been truly marked by the women in their lives.

I seek refuge in those whose eye beholds a world where women's uniqueness is celebrated.
I think of Nadine Labaki's film Where Do We Go Now? a glowing tribute to the power of women to transcend the barriers of tradition, often in tandem with religion.

A universal call for human decency which leaves you begging for the question why it does not prevail in the world as we know it.

Yet when we watch its power on the silver screen so compellingly put, its impact is obvious.
It does not fail to move men and women alike to the core.

But above all this Women's Day is a day of gratitude for I think we are nothing without the role models which consciously or less consciously so, have left their imprints on our lives as women. Those who spurred us on to succeed and to never give up. Those who regularly inject us with a much needed motivation jab when you have no choice but to get up and dust yourself off, again.

Those who look at you and see you, even on the days when fear is your middle name and you're bathing in insecurity.

To me that greatest woman of all is my mother, the most relentless yet the kindest, the most wise yet the most humble of all. This life alone is not enough to be her daughter.

My thoughts on this day go out to my dear friends whose greatest role model has gone too soon... Lubna, Natalie, Stefania, Veronique and countless others...Irreplaceable mothers live on in your hearts of hearts. They've set up shop there, forever.]]>