The facts:
Sean
Marckos Benvenuto is a young filmmaker, director and screenwriter who also
represents the Quebecers Home production of films and audio-visual “The Door of Dreams Movies / Pictures Inc.
Dreamsgate”. He presented in April 2007 a film project, “De l’Autre côté / From The Other Side”,
produced by Dreamsgate Pictures film, shown at 19 international festivals and
winner of 6 of them.
In May
2008, Sean Marckos went to Cannes as part of the promotion of his film. With invitations
and certifications, one of his objectives was to conduct interviews front of
the steps of the famous Red Carpet of the Festival de Cannes, but that access
was denied for “security reasons”
and, despite his insistence, security officers have strongly advisable to use a
dedicated path ... and invisible to the public.
After
many exanges with the Festival organizers in 2008, steps have been addressed to
Gilles Jacob, President Organizing Committee of the Festival of Cannes by "Dreamsgate Picture" in February 2009, to reflect this fact and ask
for compensations and solutions. In response, Gilles Jacob disputes the facts reported
by Sean Markos and said that for users of wheelchairs there is "another
means of access for guests with disabilities”, provided that the person
concerned “makes demand prior express with security services”.
This
"incident" was reproduced exactly in 2009 but, this time, was filmed
by his colleagues to testify about the situation.
Feeling
discriminated in this situation Sean Marckos launched the “refleXion” project
to fight the “image discrimination” which feels like a victim, and with the
objective to achieve a red carpet without discrimination. The public event
launch of this operation takes place on May 5, 2010 on the eve of the opening
of the Cannes festival.
Why support the work of
Sean Markos?
After obtaining the recognition of disability rights
and the adoption of the CRPD by the United Nations in December 2006, the World
Organisation of Disabled Persons International (DPI) and its members noted how
each effective enforcement of their rights is difficult, increasing resistance
or contextual difficulties which are opposed each day to real changes in their
daily lives.
DPI efforts since 1981 for political changes on disability
seems insufficient, and therefore actions to introduce cultural changes are now
being planned to accompany and facilitate the implementation of the objectives
set. The action initiated by Sean Marckos is typical of this cultural field,
and more conveniently the worldwide success of the film "Avatar"
entered for the first time in the history of the cinema that build the global
culture a positive image of a person with a disability.
The action for a red carpet at Cannes without
discrimination is very clear, readable, and touches the cultural manufactures
the most powerful: Cinema. It is a challenge that seems impossible, climb
stairs in a wheelchair, but we know that technology is able to meet if
necessary means therein. After the climbing of the stairs by Heather Rose,
heroine of "Dance Me To My Song", in the arms of her partner in 1998,
what beautiful message to the world that to allow the hero of
"Avatar" to climb the steps of the festival in a wheelchair along
with the film crew?
Change the image focused on
people with disabilities through such initiatives could be taken up by media
around the world interested in the Festival, and Sean Markos and myself will
send a message to James Cameron to find his support for this initiative and
involve "his" hero.
