Yes She Cannes, a “female empowerment organisation”, has announced that it is dedicated to “increasing the presence and visibility” of women attending the 79th Cannes Film Festival.
“With vast gender disparity at the film festival – for every 25 male directors nominated in the main categories, there are only five female directors – an organisation like this is incredibly powerful, but also very much needed,” said a press release.
Since its launch in 2018, off the back of the #MeToo movement, where founder Faith Elizabeth “saw a real gap in the market for support for women at the film festival”, Yes She Cannes has supported women navigating the festival with “greater clarity, connection, and purpose”.
In 2025 alone, the initiative supported over 70 women through workshops, events, and industry-facing opportunities across the Marché du Film.
In 2026, that work expands into a full programme spanning official panels, private member spaces, and international partnerships, “built around one core idea: collective power”.
“Not as a concept, but as something practical, created through shared knowledge, aligned partnerships, and real access,” organisers said.
“Across all areas, from the Main Stage panels to private workshops, from genre collaborations to international partnerships, Yes She Cannes is built through collaboration.
“Each element of the programme reflects a shared approach: bringing together partners, platforms, and individuals to create something stronger collectively than any one space could achieve alone.”
Taking the Main Stage Palais: Women Driving Industry Conversations
As part of its commitment to building collective power within the industry, Yes She Cannes steps onto the Main Stage of the official Marché du Film on Thursday 14 May at 4pm, co-hosting a panel with Entertainment To Affect Change.
The conversation brings together women working across development, education, and production to explore how influence is built in today’s film industry – from access and collaboration to the creation of new pathways and opportunities.
Moderator: Faith Elizabeth (Founder of Yes She Cannes)
Panellists include:
- Guneet Monga (Producer of Academy-Award winning The Elephant Whisperers, WIF India)
- Maria Shvetsova (Vice president, Disauthority)
- Amanda Toney (Managing director, Stage 32)
- Maria Soccor (Director & producer, Maria Soccor Productions)
- Sara Hamilton (Development executive, producer & strategic consultant working with Greenlit and E2AC and more)
Together, the panel brings a cross-section of the industry – from global education platforms and talent development to independent production and financing – offering a practical perspective on how influence is built across different entry points and career stages.
This panel also marks the beginning of a new partnership with Stage 32, reflecting a “growing alignment between global education platforms and industry-facing initiatives, and expanding access to industry knowledge, networks, and opportunity”.
Other key moments include:
Welcome Workshop: Hosted in partnership with Dr Clare Anyiam-Osigwe B.E.M, the Wellness Film Festival, offering a grounding and clarity-focused start to the festival.
Women in Genre: Building Global Alliances: Fantastic Pavilion Panel.
The Terrace: A Private Members Space for Building Practical Power.
Women’s Panel: “What Our World Needs”: Co-hosted with Yes She Cannes, this panel explores the structural and practical tools women need to develop, finance, produce, and sustain creative work.
Beyond the Credits: Expert Conversations
The Complete Picture: Engineering the Cinematic Vision
Featuring Jo Southwell and Isabella Blake-Thomas, this session explores the journey from initial idea to finished film, bringing together perspectives across directing, performance, and production.
Terrace Talks (four-part series)
Legal & Industry Navigation, Product Placement & Brand Integration, Finance & PR, and Expand HIT – Empowering workshop.
Beyond Cannes: Extending the Impact
This work continues beyond the festival through partnerships such as the London Rolling Film Festival, supporting initiatives like the True Spark Award, which celebrates storytelling that carries an empowering and socially impactful message.
It also extends through ongoing collaborations, including a new partnership with Stage 32, creating further opportunities for connection, education, and industry access beyond Cannes.
Founder of Yes She Cannes, Faith Elizabeth, said: “This isn’t about showing up alone. It’s about building together – sharing knowledge, opening doors, and creating spaces where everyone involved is stronger because of it.
“As Cannes continues to evolve, so too does the way the industry connects, not in isolation, but through collaboration, partnership, and collective momentum.”
