She challenged the rules with the bold outfit she wore at the Cannes Film Festival.

14.05.2025 11:40

French actress and model Frederique Bel opposed the Cannes Film Festival's new 'nudity restriction' rule with her golden sequined dress. With the festival starting this week, new nudity rules have been implemented under the justification of 'decency.'

French actress Frederique Bel challenged the festival's new 'nudity restriction' rule with the bold, gold sequined dress she wore at the star-studded Cannes Film Festival opening ceremony on Tuesday.

The 50-year-old French actress and model was unafraid to show off her skin in this daring outfit, which featured cut-out details in various areas.

The dress not only had a high slit; it also included very deep cleavage and side mesh panels that showcased her waist.

Bel further elongated her figure with matching high-heeled shoes, carrying her essentials in a very interesting handbag designed like a French fry.

As for her hair, she gathered half of her long brown locks into a voluminous bun, leaving the other half down and slightly wavy.

The actress added a pop of color to her look with green earrings and opted for smoky and striking makeup for the opening ceremony. The screening of the film "Partir Un Jour" (Leaving One Day) also took place at the ceremony.

Frederique Bel is best known in France for her role as Dorothy Doll in the television series "Le Grand Journal de Canal Plus."

Bel, who has also appeared in other French series such as "Fais Pas Ci, Fais Pas Ca" and "Profilage," is one of the familiar faces on the Cannes Red Carpet.

In recent years, the Cannes Film Festival has become more talked about for the outfits worn by famous guests on the red carpet than for the films shown on the Croisette.

However, with the festival starting this week, new nudity rules established for 'decency' reasons have come into effect.

According to the organizers, this strict rule aims to stop the provocative clothing trend known as 'naked dress,' which shows much more than it covers and is becoming increasingly common on the red carpet.

A festival document clearly states: "For reasons of decency, nudity is prohibited on the red carpet and in all other areas of the festival."

"The festival's welcoming teams will be obliged not to allow anyone who does not comply with these rules to enter the red carpet."

This unexpected new rule is included in a recently published festival guideline summarizing the expected public behavior from participants.

Guests are expected to gather at the Grand Auditorium Louis Lumière to watch the most notable film screenings during the intense seven-day program in Cannes.

It seems that a more conservative dress code has now been adopted at this iconic venue; according to this, suits, tuxedos, and floor-length evening gowns are preferred over eye-catching and event-creating outfits.

Classic little black dresses, cocktail dresses, pantsuits, chic blouses, and 'heeled or flat' elegant sandals will also be accepted as attire.

While it is noted that this stricter policy will be implemented for the first time, it is unclear whether French television channels sensitive to nudity broadcasts have any influence on the enforcement of this rule.

Major red carpet events like the Cannes Film Festival are broadcast on France Télévisions channels in France.

This annual ceremony, which has recently attracted more models and influencers than actors and directors, has witnessed a noticeable increase in bold fashion choices on the red carpet.

This year's ceremony begins just after former U.S. President Trump's promise to impose high tariffs on international films.

Cannes, where filmmakers, sales representatives, and journalists from around the world gather, is a massive cinema event that awards its own golden prize, the Palme d'Or, akin to the Olympics of the silver screen.

While filmmakers come to showcase their films from nearly every corner of the world, names from the business world work tirelessly to sell finished films or new projects to various countries.

Brazilian director Kleber Mendonça Filho, who returns to Cannes with the thriller "Secret Agent," set during the Brazilian dictatorship, says, "You are essentially throwing a film into the middle of a Colosseum."

"You really have to prepare for this whole experience because it is quite intense; it feels not much different from approaching a roller coaster as you walk up the steps of the Palace."

Trump's announcement on May 4 that all films "produced in foreign lands" would face a 100% tariff had a significant shock effect on Hollywood and the international film community.

The White House stated that no final decision had yet been made on this matter. Among the options being considered is offering government incentives to U.S.-based productions instead of tariffs. However, this announcement served as a reminder of how even the most established cultural institutions can be destabilized by international tensions.

The origins of the Cannes Film Festival date back to the years of World War II. The rise of fascism in Italy led to the establishment of Cannes as an alternative to the state-controlled Venice Film Festival at that time.

Since then, Cannes' unwavering commitment to cinema has made it a magnet for filmmakers. Countless directors have made their names here.

This year is no different. In fact, some names making their directorial debuts at Cannes are already quite well-known. Kristen Stewart ("The Chronology of Water"), Scarlett Johansson ("Eleanor the Great"), and Harris Dickinson ("Urchin") will all showcase their first feature directorial efforts in Cannes' "Un Certain Regard" section.

Many Cannes veterans are also returning to the festival. Among them are Tom Cruise ("Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning"), Robert De Niro, who will receive an Honorary Palme d'Or 49 years after the premiere of "Taxi Driver" in Cannes, and Quentin Tarantino, who will pay tribute to low-budget Western director George Sherman.

The highly anticipated eighth and final film of the "Mission: Impossible" series is one of the first premieres on this year's Cannes schedule, with the glamorous red carpet event taking place on Wednesday, May 14.

Meanwhile, Scarlett Johansson's directorial debut "Eleanor The Great" will be unveiled on May 20.