In a historic move, the Cannes Film Festival has barred French actor Théo Navarro-Mussy from attending the red carpet premiere of Dossier 137 on Thursday night due to ongoing allegations of rape and sexual assault. This marks the first time in the festival’s history that an actor has been excluded from the red carpet because of such allegations.
Navarro-Mussy, who plays a supporting role in Dossier 137, faces accusations from three former partners alleging rape and physical violence between 2018 and 2020. Although the case was initially dropped last month due to lack of evidence, the plaintiffs plan to appeal and file a civil lawsuit.
Cannes Festival director Thierry Frémaux confirmed that Navarro-Mussy was excluded from the red carpet because an appeal is underway. “The procedure is still ongoing,” Frémaux stated .
Producers Caroline Benjo and Carole Scotta of Haut et Court, the company behind the politically charged drama, addressed the allegations in a statement, clarifying that the accusations predate the film’s production. “Even though the alleged facts largely predate the production of the film, we decided with the festival management that the person in question would not accompany the film to Cannes, out of respect for the plaintiffs and for the victims’ word, and without prejudice to the presumption of innocence of the accused,” the producers stated. They emphasized that the festival has adopted a firm stance on not giving visibility to individuals accused of sexist or sexual violence.
Directed by César Award winner Dominik Moll, Dossier 137 is set against the backdrop of France’s yellow vest protests. The film follows Stéphanie, an investigator with the Inspection Générale de la Police Nationale (IGPN), who is tasked with determining responsibility after a young man is injured by a flash-ball projectile during a demonstration. As the investigation unfolds, the case takes a personal turn when Stéphanie discovers the victim is from her hometown .
The film stars Léa Drucker as Stéphanie, with a supporting cast that includes Jonathan Turnbull, Mathilde Roehrich, Guslagie Malanda, and Stanislas Merhar. Dossier 137 is competing for the Palme d’Or at this year’s Cannes Film Festival and is scheduled for a theatrical release in France on November 19, 2025.
The decision to bar Navarro-Mussy from the red carpet underscores Cannes’ evolving stance on accountability in the film industry, reflecting a broader commitment to addressing issues of sexual misconduct.
