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The Guardian
29-07-2025
- Sport
- The Guardian
Switzerland pulls off dazzling high-wire act as Euro 2025 delivers to the last
Twelve hours before Euro 2025 reached its crescendo the Uefa executive director of football, Giorgio Marchetti, addressed a hall of delegates in Basel. The morning coffees were still taking hold as officials from clubs, federations and other stakeholders settled down for a forum designed partly to debrief the previous month. There was no mistaking the congratulatory mood and Marchetti was determined to see it last. The tournament would not be 'like a butterfly, over in 24 hours', he said; instead its reverberations would be felt far into a burgeoning sport's future. There was certainly little sign of any effects dulling as afterparties swung long into the night following England's heist against Spain. The overwhelming sense was of euphoria, sprinkled with relief, that host and governing body had pulled off what some viewed as a high‑wire act. Switzerland's relatively modest football infrastructure, not to mention its muted appreciation of the women's game, had raised eyebrows but it staged an event that delivered to the last. 'It's a very strong image of Switzerland that has been shared with the whole world,' the Swiss football association president, Dominique Blanc, said on Monday. 'It has exceeded our expectations as organiser and also the expectation of Uefa.' All parties can reel off a string of convincing figures. If Switzerland needed the money it can bask in 200 million francs (£186m) brought in through tourism by the European Championship. That is a direct consequence of the numbers that make Uefa particularly proud: a record attendance of more than 657,000; all bar two of the 31 games being recorded as sellouts; the number of visiting supporters far exceeding those at previous editions. Then came the sensory evidence that it remains worth granting host status to grow football in countries that are not autocracies, petrostates or both. Switzerland rose cautiously but, in the end, entirely to the challenge of presenting a spectacle. The country has never experienced scenes such as the fan walk in Berne before their historic quarter-final against Spain, when a sea of red flowed over Nydeggbrücke bridge and snaked up the hill towards Stadion Wankdorf. Those fan marches, replicated by several nations' fanbases across the month, were evidence of a women's football supporter culture that has grown in shape and identity here. Uefa wanted to learn more about the sport's audience, its habits and its mores, at Euro 2025 and has been presented with compelling answers. Nor has Switzerland experienced many noises like the commotion that erupted in Geneva when the Nati dramatically equalised against Finland. Crucially it learned to embrace and cherish a young, multicultural team with none of the cynicism previously unloaded on some of their male counterparts. Opportunity knocks in the marketable, vastly talented forms of Sydney Schertenleib and Iman Beney. The country now has a platform to do more than flap its wings. Can it harness that momentum between now and the next Nations League campaign in February? Uefa will hope so as it looks to bolster the suite of credible, high-level contenders for its competitions. England's win at least gave the lie to any idea that Spain could not be toppled but, among some observers, there was quiet disappointment about the level shown by some big guns. Neither France nor Germany convinced, while the Netherlands flopped; Sweden had looked the best prepared team to take on La Roja but blew their quarter-final against an England side propelled by its own destiny. It felt instructive when Emma Hayes, a speaker at Uefa's forum on Sunday, suggested England's transitions had not been as slick as those at Euro 2022. That proved not to matter and there is a sense the standard of play at the top end did not kick on this year, even if there was evidence of a hugely welcome rise in level lower down. Quality, though, is not always the most important measure of a tournament. Short-term endorphin kicks engender the buzz, especially among remote viewers, and it did little harm to the competition's role in hearts and minds that so many of the decisive tussles staggered towards penalty shootouts or dramatic extra‑time resolutions. Those moments, much more than the cruises and cakewalks, cement an event in new supporters' consciousnesses. Euro 2025 achieved that in greater concentration than any of its past equivalent tournaments. Sign up to Moving the Goalposts No topic is too small or too big for us to cover as we deliver a twice-weekly roundup of the wonderful world of women's football after newsletter promotion Uefa must now choose the most appropriate step for a tournament that insiders know needs handling with care even if its president, Aleksander Ceferin, was available for only two fleeting appearances. Switzerland's success has given a green light to choose a more outwardly ambitious host for Euro 2029 from five candidates. Germany appears the early favourite and would also be large enough to sustain an expanded tournament, an eventuality that has not entirely been extinguished. The women's European Championship will inevitably join other showpieces in swelling to 24 teams some day although 2033 is a more likely target. Breaking even and demonstrating that progress can also be measured in sound business terms is – as the Uefa director of women's football Nadine Kessler, recently told the Guardian – a more concrete priority. There would be clear risks in overreaching when the present model has suggested a path to viability. For the audience who will define its future, though, pictures matter more than pound signs. The images that will linger include Ann‑Katrin Berger's extraordinary save against France, Aitana Bonmatí's semi‑final flourish and the pandemonium that unfolded when Chloe Kelly battered the final penalty past Cata Coll. Euro 2025 built firmly on existing foundations and, for all the challenges that await, set out Marchetti's vision for a far more durable beast.
LeMonde
02-07-2025
- Sport
- LeMonde
Switzerland hopes hosting Euro 2025 will bring a boost to women's football
Were the mountain retreats the Swiss women's national football team made in Thun, Magglingen or St. Gallen in recent weeks motivated by hopes of gaining some perspective? As they prepare to host the UEFA Women's Euro football competition, from July 2 to 27, the Swiss side, which has never progressed beyond the group stage, faces high expectations. Ahead of the tournament opening match against Norway, at Basel's St. Jakob-Park on Wednesday, July 2, Switzerland ended a tough run of eight consecutive matches without a win, by defeating the Czech Republic 4-1 in a friendly match. The win laid the groundwork for the Swiss team to have a more reassuring start to the Euro championship, a challenge that Switzerland's football federation, the ASF, has rigorously prepared for. The ASF's planning got underway as soon as Switzerland was awarded the tournament in April 2023, with the federation giving itself the mission to "develop women's football," a phrase that Dominique Blanc, the federation's president since 2019, had often repeated. Almost everything about the team needed to be reviewed, and Pia Sundhage, a pioneering figure in women's football, was given the reins to do so. Pia, a Swedish former head coach of several giant international teams, including the US from 2008 to 2012 and Brazil from 2019 to 2023, said she was "excited about the project," as was Blanc, who viewed her appointment in January 2024 as "a new milestone for Swiss women's football." 'To quickly create something phenomenal' The Scandinavian coach, who won the Euro as a player in 1984, was tasked with helping to double the number of women involved in Swiss football by 2027, both for the ASF's 40,000 current registered women members and the 134 women referees. "I try to draw on my experience abroad and help to quickly create something phenomenal to represent Switzerland," Sundhage said upon her arrival. She brought a strong sense of ambition that she tried to instill in her squad, which she described as "too polite" after they were relegated to Group B of the Nations League in early June: "I want them to take their place and make their voices heard." The task will not be an easy one for the developing team, which currently sits in 23 rd place in the FIFA rankings. Although a talented generation of young players has gradually come to reinforce the Swiss side, most of its key players still play abroad. Only five of Sundhage's 23 picks for the season were playing in this Swiss Women's Super League season, and two of them, 18-year-olds Iman Beney and Noemi Ivelj, were slated to play in England and Germany next year. 'Still a big gap between the national teams' The wave of early player departures, as is often the case in smaller European leagues, largely results from fierce competition and limited resources for clubs that struggle to fully professionalize. As a result, Switzerland's most experienced players try to stay realistic about the ASF's promises. Forward Meriame Terchoun, 22, who left for Dijon in 2022, told Le Monde she felt "conflicted" about the potential impact of the event: "Playing the Euro, at home, is wonderful," she said. "But there is also the example of the 2019 World Cup in France, which was great, it was a celebration, everyone loved it. But afterwards, not much happened. I hope Switzerland will not make the same mistake." Switzerland would find it difficult to emulate the English model coveted by European rivals. While the Swiss federation is hosting the most lucrative UEFA Women's Euro in history, with the prize money having been increased to €41 million, it should neither rush the process nor overestimate its place in European football. "There is still a big gap between the national teams," said Terchoun, using the Nations League as a benchmark. "Switzerland is somewhere between League A and League B." The situation could soon change if the Swiss side has a successful tournament, even by surviving the group stage, as a qualification for further rounds would be unprecedented, and if the ASF continues to invest. Another promising sign is the recent emergence of several promising players, such as Barcelona's Sydney Schertenleib, 18, and Lyon's Leila Wandeler, 19, both recruited by Sundhage. So, too, was the sale of more than 80% of tickets before the tournament began. Finally, the sold-out tickets for the Wednesday opener against Norway, led by former Ballon d'Or Ada Hegerberg, have raised hopes of pushing the Swiss team to new heights.
The Guardian
02-07-2025
- Sport
- The Guardian
Ignore the keyboard warriors: bring on Swiss cliches and Euro 2025
With the Lions Tour, Wimbledon, the second cricket Test between England and India and Copa Gianni all in full swing, the last thing all us sports fans who are so spoiled for summer choice need is keyboard warriors on social media abominations complaining about women's football being 'forced down our throats'. Especially given that, like each of the other sporting events listed above, watching Euro 2025 is still not compulsory. Due to take place in Switzerland over the next 25 days, the tournament kicks off on Wednesday, with Iceland taking on Finland in the early game before hosts Switzerland take on Norway in one of 22 out of 32 games that are already completely sold out. While Proper Football Men such as @FirstNameBunchOfNumbers are likely to be as performatively uninterested in the competition as we've come to expect, home fans and many of their travelling counterparts have certainly bought into it. Thus far, ticket sales have already topped 600,000, in a state of affairs that suggests interest in the European women's game is now higher than many of the Alpine peaks that will serve as picturesque backdrops in the various TV montages containing Toblerones, clocks, cheese, yodelling men, pocket knives and brown cows with bells around their necks that would almost certainly materialise in the coming weeks if Football Daily had won the rights. 'I sincerely thank the Swiss Football Association and its president, Dominique Blanc, for their tireless efforts in preparing for this event, and the host cities, volunteers and fans whose energy and support will leave a lasting legacy,' honked Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin in his pre-tournament address. 'The stage now belongs to the 16 outstanding teams chasing the dreams of European glory. I wish them all good health, to be on top of their game, to make their nations proud, and to write a new chapter in football history.' Of the teams who qualified, approximately five are considered genuine contenders to lift the trophy, even if most experts seem to have flagged up Spain, the World Cup holders, as the most likely winners. England will be hopeful to retain the title they won at Wembley three years ago but have also been earmarked as potential high-profile early croppers amid some talk of unhappiness in a camp that includes high-profile absentees. Lioness legends Mary Earps, Millie Bright and Fran Kirby all withdrew from contention (or in some cases learned they weren't in contention) in the week leading up to the announcement of Sarina Wiegman's squad, prompting accusations that their Dutch manager was presiding over a disharmonious squad being rent asunder by excessively big egos. 'That is not the case,' sniffed Wiegman at the time, upon being asked if her team is in crisis. 'We are going with these 23 to the Euros now and I feel very comfortable with this team. I am very happy with the team and I am very excited, and I am looking forward to it. For me, it doesn't feel like a crisis at all.' Yet to taste defeat as a manager at the Euros going into her third tournament, Wiegman is a wily veteran, unlike Wales and Poland, who will be making their debuts in this showcase of a sport that has never been in more rude health. Join Barry Glendenning from 5pm BST for MBM coverage of Iceland 1-1 Finland in the Euro 2025 opener, with Scott Murray on deck at 8pm for Switzerland 2-1 Norway. I'm my own worst critic. If I'm not happy with it, it doesn't go out. It simply doesn't happen. When it came to [Swindon's] Don Rogers, for instance, I cut that head off six times! It's kind of scary when you do that' – Alan Herriott is among the sculptors who detail the pressure of preserving a player's likeness and legacy for expectant fans in this entertaining piece. During what used to be the close season for football I would fill some of the void by watching Wimbledon. Seeing the line judges ducking 140mph serves – or not – was particularly enjoyable. Imagine my disappointment when I discovered that, from this year, all the major calls are made by someone watching camera-assisted footage on a screen. Still, it seems these decisions are made more quickly and accurately. Perhaps football should consider something similar? Oh' – Justin Johnson. Surely commentators must be aware that goalposts and crossbars are inanimate objects? The posts aren't making last-ditch tackles, nor is the crossbar putting its body on the line by bravely throwing itself in front of goal-bound shots. So, for the love of Diego (other deities are available) please stop saying someone was 'denied by the woodwork'. Otherwise my long-suffering wife will have to go on hearing me shout at the telly like a demented idiot who believes the commentators can actually hear him' – Mark McFadden. Re: Diego Maradona's choice of icy refreshment (yesterday's Memory Lane, full email edition). From left to right: Pop-eye (limón); Frigo pie; Frigurón (in the form of a shark); Capitán Cola. Just FYI' – Tim Cole. Please send your letters to Today's winner of our letter o' the day competition is … Justin Johnson, who gets some Football Weekly merch. We'll be in touch. Terms and conditions for our competitions, when we run them, can be viewed here. It's the latest Football Weekly podcast on the Copa Gianni and Euro 2025. Newcastle United pride themselves on making headlines with their flags – they even have a fans' group dedicated to organising them so St James' Park looks its best on matchdays. But in the past 24 hours the club's use of one in a video has drawn attention for the wrong reasons. In a video to promote the Magpies' new third kit, which featured fan and young local rocker Sam Fender, the club included a flag that resembled the Rising Sun ensign used by Japan's army in the second world war. Yep, many people find it offensive. Ah. Time to roll out an apology. 'The reaction to our new third kit with Adidas has been special, but the launch video contained a scene that could inadvertently cause offence,' said a club statement. 'We apologise for that. We've removed the scene from the film to make sure that as many fans as possible can enjoy it.' Chelsea have added João Pedro to their Copa Gianni squad after signing the forward from Brighton in a deal worth up to £60m. And yes, he has penned a seven-year deal. Centre-back Jarell Quansah has skedaddled from Liverpool to Bayer Leverkusen in a deal worth up to £35m. 'It's a great role and challenge for me to be part of the current Leverkusen rebuild,' whooped the 22-year-old. Another player who has been signing things is Chloe Kelly. The 27-year-old has completed a free transfer to Arsenal after her successful loan from Manchester City. 'Learning from an incredible manager and continuing to build relationships with an excellent team is a journey I'm looking forward to continuing,' cheered the England forward, from somewhere in Switzerland. Morecambe are on the brink of entering administration after talks between the club's directors and the owner, Jason Whittingham, failed to find a breakthrough regarding a potential takeover. Real Madrid are into the Copa Gianni quarter-finals after Gonzalo García's goal was enough for a 1-0 win over hot-and-bothered Juventus. 'Ten players asked to be substituted,' wheezed Juve boss Igor Tudor. 'The exhaustion was incredible … this heat … really gets to you.' Reports in Brazil say that Botafogo boss Renato Paiva was hoofed through the door marked Do One for not allowing chief suit John Textor to interfere by picking the team. 'All I can say is that I'm shocked, and the staff and players are open-mouthed about the decision,' sniffed Paiva. And Roy Hodgson and Thomas Tuchel have crossed paths at Wimbledon today. Let's hope this was a friendly chat about tactics and not an argument over whose seat it was. Euro 2025 is a moment to sense the sheer scale of progress, writes Jonathan Liew. Hammerings, history and hard times: the seven ages of Sarina Wiegman's England. By Tom Garry and Suzanne Wrack. Nick Ames on how Switzerland is hoping for a festival of football to get the Euros party started. How was the Copa Gianni for Manchester City? Jamie Jackson looks at the good and the not so good from their time in the USA USA USA. Has a team ever won Big/Bigger Cup without beating any champions? The Knowledge has the answer. It was a desperate exit to Guatemala in the Gold Cup for Canada. Joe Callaghan reviews what is going wrong for Jesse Marsch. And the Rumour Mill brings you all the latest tittle-tattle for your enjoyment. Today there is a suggestion an England winger will swap Chelsea for Arsenal. To a mud bath at Kenilworth Road as Sweden celebrate their triumph over England on penalties at Euro 1984, the game having gone the distance after finishing 1-1 after two legs. At the front right you may spot Pia Sundhage, who is leading hosts Switzerland into the current tournament as manager.
Daily Mail
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Alessandra Ambrosio wows in a daring green floor-length gown as she attends the star-studded Cannes Film Festival opening ceremony
Alessandra Ambrosio exuded glamour as she posed on the red carpet ahead of the Partir Un Jour screening during the opening ceremony of the Cannes Film Festival on Tuesday. The Brazilian model, 44, showcased her incredible figure in a daring green floor-length gown, featuring a dramatic thigh-high slit, fluffy sleeve accents, and a long train. Offering a glimpse of her toned pins, Alessandra elevated her look with silver strappy heels. She further accessorised her glamorous look with a diamond choker necklace, featuring a purple jewel in the centre, and matching hoop earrings. To complete the look, she styled her brunette tresses in a sleek half-up-half-down hairstyle and wore a flawless makeup palette. The former Victoria's Secret model appeared in great spirits as she blew a kiss to the cameras and struck several sultry poses on the red carpet. Partir Un Jour follows a young woman who leaves her hometown to forge a life of her own, only to be drawn back by a family emergency. Directed by Amélie Bonnin, the film stars French actress Dominique Blanc and actor Tewfik Jallab. This year's Cannes Film Festival is taking place in the wake of Trump's vow to enact tariffs on international films. Cannes, where filmmakers, sales agents and journalists gather from around the world, is the Olympics of the big screen, with its own golden prize, the Palme d´Or, to give out at the end. Filmmakers come from nearly every corner of the globe to showcase their films while dealmakers work through the night to sell finished films or packaged productions to various territories. 'You release a film into that Colosseum-like situation,' says Brazilian director Kleber Mendonça Filho, who´s returning to Cannes with 'The Secret Agent, a thriller set during Brazil ´s dictatorship. 'You´ve got to really prepare for the whole experience because it's quite intense - not very far from the feeling of approaching a roller coaster as you go up the steps at the Palais.' Trump sent shock waves through Hollywood and the international film community when he announced on May 4 that all movies " produced in Foreign Lands" will face 100% tariffs. The White House has said no final decisions have been made. Options being explored include federal incentives for U.S.-based productions, rather than tariffs. But the announcement was a reminder of how international tensions can destabilise even the oldest cultural institutions. The Cannes Film Festival originally emerged in the World War II years, when the rise of fascism in Italy led to the founding of an alternative to the then-government-controlled Venice Film Festival. In the time since, Cannes' resolute commitment to cinema has made it a beacon to filmmakers. Countless directors have come to make their name. This year is no different, though some of the first-time filmmakers at Cannes are already particularly well-known. Kristen Stewart (The Chronology of Water), Scarlett Johansson (Eleanor the Great) and Harris Dickinson (Urchin) will all be unveiling their feature directorial debuts in Cannes´ Un Certain Regard sidebar section. Many Cannes veterans will be back, too, including Tom Cruise (Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning), Robert De Niro - who received an honorary Palme d´Or 49 years after Taxi Driver premiered in Cannes - and Quentin Tarantino, to pay tribute to low-budget Western director George Sherman. The much-anticipated eighth and final instalment of Mission Impossible is one of the earlier premieres on this year's Cannes calendar, with its glitzy red carpet taking place on Wednesday, May 14. Meanwhile, Scarlett's directorial debut, Eleanor The Great, will be unveiled on May 20. However, in the wake of his legal battle with former co-star Blake Lively, Justin Baldoni is not expected to attend. Over recent years, the star-studded extravaganza has arguably won more attention for the outfits worn by its celebrity guests than the roster of feature films being screened on the Croisette. But new nudity rules, devised for 'the sake of decency,' will be implemented when French director Amélie Bonnin's Leave One Day opens the ceremony this week. According to organisers, the austere move is an attempt to stifle the celebrity trend for 'naked dresses' - namely provocative outfits that reveal considerably more than they conceal - on the red carpet. 'For decency reasons, nudity is prohibited on the red carpet, as well as any other area of the festival,' states a Cannes festival document. 'The festival welcoming teams will be obligated to prohibit red carpet access to anyone not respecting these rules.' The surprise new policy features in a recent festival-goers charter - released with a series of outlines regarding expected public behaviour. Guests are expected to converge on the Grand Auditorium Louis Lumière for some of the highest profile film screenings across a packed seven-day schedule in Cannes. It's understood that the iconic venue now adopts a more conservative dress code, with suits, dinner jackets, and floor-length evening gowns generally favoured over headline-grabbing ensembles. Classic little black dresses, cocktail dresses, pant-suits, dressy tops and elegant sandals, 'with or without a heel', will also be permitted. While the decision to implement a more stringent policy will be a first, it is not known if French TV broadcasters, wary of airing nudity, played a role in its enforcement. Major red carpet events, including the Cannes Film Festival, are aired in France by France Télévisions. Recently attracting more models and influencers than actors and filmmakers, the annual ceremony has seen an increase in risque red carpet fashion statements. In 2021, American supermodel Bella Hadid bared her cleavage in a plunging black gown while attending a screening of Tre Piani (Three Floors). She pulled a similar stunt three years later, with guests at the 2024 gala left speechless after she attended the premiere of Donald Trump's biopic The Apprentice completely braless beneath a sheer brown evening dress.
Daily Mail
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Julia Garner exudes glamour in a sheer black gown as she attends Partir Un Jour screening during Cannes Film Festival opening ceremony
Julia Garner exuded glamour as she posed on the red carpet ahead of the Partir Un Jour premiere during the opening ceremony of the Cannes Film Festival on Tuesday. The American actress, 31, showcased her incredible figure in a sheer black gown layered over a shimmery nude slip, featuring a dramatic thigh-high slit. Offering a glimpse of her long pins, Julia elevated her look with black patent leather platform open-toe heels. She further accessorised her glamorous look with diamond drop earrings and statement rings. To complete the look, she wore her short blonde hair in a tousled side-swept style and opted for a bold smoky eye makeup palette. Partir Un Jour follows a young woman who leaves her hometown to forge a life of her own, only to be drawn back by a family emergency. Directed by Amélie Bonnin, the film stars French actress Dominique Blanc and actor Tewfik Jallab. This year's Cannes Film Festival is taking place in the wake of Trump's vow to enact tariffs on international films. Cannes, where filmmakers, sales agents and journalists gather from around the world, is the Olympics of the big screen, with its own golden prize, the Palme d´Or, to give out at the end. Filmmakers come from nearly every corner of the globe to showcase their films while dealmakers work through the night to sell finished films or packaged productions to various territories. 'You release a film into that Colosseum-like situation,' says Brazilian director Kleber Mendonça Filho, who´s returning to Cannes with 'The Secret Agent, a thriller set during Brazil ´s dictatorship. 'You´ve got to really prepare for the whole experience because it´s quite intense - not very far from the feeling of approaching a roller coaster as you go up the steps at the Palais.' Trump sent shock waves through Hollywood and the international film community when he announced on May 4 that all movies "produced in Foreign Lands" will face 100% tariffs. The White House has said no final decisions have been made. Options being explored include federal incentives for U.S.-based productions, rather than tariffs. But the announcement was a reminder of how international tensions can destabilise even the oldest cultural institutions. The Cannes Film Festival originally emerged in the World War II years, when the rise of fascism in Italy led to the founding of an alternative to the then-government-controlled Venice Film Festival. In the time since, Cannes´ resolute commitment to cinema has made it a beacon to filmmakers. Countless directors have come to make their name. This year is no different, though some of the first-time filmmakers at Cannes are already particularly well-known. Kristen Stewart (The Chronology of Water), Scarlett Johansson (Eleanor the Great) and Harris Dickinson (Urchin) will all be unveiling their feature directorial debuts in Cannes´ Un Certain Regard sidebar section. Many Cannes veterans will be back, too, including Tom Cruise (Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning), Robert De Niro - who's to receive an honorary Palme d´Or 49 years after Taxi Driver premiered in Cannes - and Quentin Tarantino, to pay tribute to low-budget Western director George Sherman. The much-anticipated eighth and final instalment of Mission Impossible is one of the earlier premieres on this year's Cannes calendar, with its glitzy red carpet taking place on Wednesday, May 14. Meanwhile, Scarlett's directorial debut, Eleanor The Great, will be unveiled on May 20. However, in the wake of his legal battle with former co-star Blake Lively, Justin Baldoni is not expected to attend. Over recent years, the star-studded extravaganza has arguably won more attention for the outfits worn by its celebrity guests than the roster of feature films being screened on the Croisette. The actress appeared in high spirits as she waved to the cameras ahead of the screening But new nudity rules, devised for 'the sake of decency,' will be implemented when French director Amélie Bonnin's Leave One Day opens the ceremony this week. According to organisers, the austere move is an attempt to stifle the celebrity trend for 'naked dresses' - namely provocative outfits that reveal considerably more than they conceal - on the red carpet. 'For decency reasons, nudity is prohibited on the red carpet, as well as any other area of the festival,' states a Cannes festival document. 'The festival welcoming teams will be obligated to prohibit red carpet access to anyone not respecting these rules.' The surprise new policy features in a recent festival-goers charter - released with a series of outlines regarding expected public behaviour. Guests are expected to converge on the Grand Auditorium Louis Lumière for some of the highest profile film screenings across a packed seven-day schedule in Cannes. It's understood that the iconic venue now adopts a more conservative dress code, with suits, dinner jackets, and floor-length evening gowns generally favoured over headline-grabbing ensembles. Classic little black dresses, cocktail dresses, pant-suits, dressy tops and elegant sandals, 'with or without a heel', will also be permitted. While the decision to implement a more stringent policy will be a first, it is not known if French TV broadcasters, wary of airing nudity, played a role in its enforcement. Major red carpet events, including the Cannes Film Festival, are aired in France by France Télévisions. Recently attracting more models and influencers than actors and filmmakers, the annual ceremony has seen an increase in risque red carpet fashion statements. In 2021, American supermodel Bella Hadid bared her cleavage in a plunging black gown while attending a screening of Tre Piani (Three Floors). She pulled a similar stunt three years later, with guests at the 2024 gala left speechless after she attended the premiere of Donald Trump's biopic The Apprentice completely braless beneath a sheer brown evening dress.
