Diversity in Cannes Creator Yolonda Brinkley Launches “Dear Cannes, Do Better,” Calls for More Inclusion

Yolonda Brinkley, the creator of inclusion movement Diversity in Cannes, is celebrating the festival’s 75th edition by urging it to make more of an effort — specifically to “dismantle the patriarchy, embrace inclusion, and select more Black women to compete in competition,” per a press release. Brinkley has organized “Dear Cannes, Do Better,” an event celebrating Black women in film to be held at the Pavillon Afriques May 25. In addition, she has launched #DearCannes, a social media campaign calling on the festival to get with the program and be more supportive of Black women.

A collaboration with Cheryl Magazine editor-in-chief Cheryl Polote-Williamson, filmmaker Wendy Eley Jackson, and Pavillon Afriques founder Karine Barclais, “Dear Cannes, Do Better” is described as “the direct result of women changemakers, empowered to build their own table at the world’s most prestigious film festival,” according to the source. “No longer awaiting permission from the patriarchy, they’ve created an opportunity for established and emerging Black women in film to amplify their authentic voices during the Cannes Film Festival, where they’ve been ignored for the past 75 years.”

If you’re a Women and Hollywood regular, you have no doubt heard about Cannes’ long history of being, to put it charitably, problematic. It has repeatedly rejected the idea of having gender parity quotas; had an unofficial-official rule, up until a few years ago, that women wear high heels on the red carpet; and has only screened  one film from a Black women director in its main competition, Mati Diop’s “Atlantics,” in 2019. And, recently, news broke that the festival regularly censors journalists.

All of this is to say that everyone should be on board with Brinkley’s message — Cannes is not only capable, but obliged, to do better. A lot better.

“In 75 years, the Cannes Film Festival has selected only one Black woman director in competition, With the plethora of talented Black female voices sounding off at other global film festivals, awareness is no longer an acceptable excuse for the gross underrepresentation of Black women directors in competition,” Brinkley said. “As they celebrate their jubilee as the world’s most prestigious film festival and welcome their first female president, I believe change is inevitable. In the interim, delay is denial, and I welcome the opportunity to align with Cheryl Polote-Williamson to celebrate Black women in film, at the 75th Festival de Cannes.”

Williamson added, “After a year working with our production teams and reflecting on the vast examples of how African American experiences have been captured in film, we are honored to demonstrate our commitment to creators of color by taking a stand with Diversity in Cannes.” She continued, “With this body of work, we aim to provide Black women in film with an honorable professional foundation to amplify their voices, create space for their stories, and illuminate a path to a sustainable career in film.”

The “Dear Cannes, Do Better” event next Wednesday will include the world premiere of Jackson’s “The Invitation,” a short tracing the history of The Links, Incorporated, an organization for Black women changemakers. Black women and allies attending the celebration are encouraged to wear any combination of black, white, and yellow clothing, and to post videos of their responses to the fact that Cannes has only screened one Black woman-directed film in competition. Please use the hashtags #dearcannes and #diversityincannes.

Check out the #DearCannes campaign video below, as well as the schedule for “Dear Cannes, Do Better: A Celebration of Black Women in Film at the Cannes Film Festival.” All are welcome to attend the latter, but be sure to email your RSVP to diversityncannes@gmail.com by May 23. Cannes runs through May 28.