In Cannes this year, the Red Sea International Film Festival celebrated the achievements of Women in Cinema – both in front of and behind the camera – who are helping to shape the film industry and inspiring a new generation of talent in the Middle East, Africa and Asia. Four of these women – French-Sengalese director Ramata-Toulaye Sy, Thai actress-model-singer Freen, Saudi singer and actress Aseel Omran and Saudi actress Adhwa Fahad – all stepped into Deadline’s Cannes Studio to talk about their current projects and how they feel the issue of gender parity in the entertainment business is shaping up. “There are opportunities for women, but we need to do more because it’s not enough,” said Sy, director of last year’s Cannes Competition entry Banel & Adama .
“Last year when I was in Competition, there were seven women in Competition and this year just four. I think there’s space for us, but people don’t want to give us the space. It’s our right to be there – we are allowed to be there, but people don’t want us to be there.
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