“Cannes 2025: Controversial Start with Nudity Ban on the Red Carpet”

The 78th Cannes Film Festival sparked debates with its controversial ban on nudity and voluminous outfits on the red carpet. This year’s edition also spotlighted two Irania films and a protest letter signed by 380 global filmmakers condemning the Gaza crisis.

According to Boraq Hamim Art News Agency, the 2025 Cannes Film Festival faces a new challenge: a strict ban on nudity and obstructive attire on its iconic red carpet. Citing “ethical and logistical concerns,” this decision has ignited fierce debates across media platforms since Day.

Opening with Cronenberg’s Film and a Star-Studded Jury

The festival kicked off with David Cronenberg’s The Shrouds in the Out of Competition section. Juliette Binoche, the acclaimed French actress, chairs the jury, which includes figures like Laura Poitras (director of Citizenfour), Peter Bradshaw (The Guardian critic), and Nadine Labaki (Lebanese director of Capernaum).

Iranian Cinema in Focus: Return of Roustaee and Panahi

Two Iranian films—Saeed Roustaee’s Women and Children and Jafar Panahi’s A Simple Accident—are competing in the main category. Roustaee returns with a socially charged drama after recent legal controversies, while Panahi continues his bold filmmaking without official permits.

New Red Carpet Rules: End of Extreme

Fashion?
Per the festival’s updated guidelines, full nudity and outfits with long trains are now prohibited. This follows past scandals like **Bella Hadid**’s sheer dress (2021) and political protests on the carpet. However, questions linger: Will these rules apply equally to all, or will luxury brands retain exceptions? ### 380 Filmmakers’ Letter: “Silence on Gaza is Shameful” In a symbolic act, artists including Pedro Almodóvar, Leila Bakhtiari, and Yorgos Lanthimos signed an open letter in *Libération*, condemning global inaction over Gaza’s humanitarian crisis. The letter honors Fatima Hassouna, a Palestinian photographer killed in an airstrike, and demands an end to the “indifference of cultural institutions.”