Indigenous producers refrained from walking the Cannes Film Festival red carpet for wearing moccasins

Kelvin Redvers, an Indigenous Canadian film producer, stated that he was barred from walking the Cannes Film Festival red carpet because he was wearing traditional moccasins.

Redvers told  that he was in line to walk the red carpet for Valeria Bruni Tedeschi’s “Les Amandiers” world premiere on May 22 when he was stopped by security and refused entry.

According to The Canadian Encyclopedia, he claimed that festival security had a problem with his moccasin shoes, which are traditionally made from animal hide and worn by Canada’s Indigenous population. Redvers told Variety that his sister beaded his moccasins.

According to Global News, the Indigenous Screen Office in Toronto filed a complaint on Redvers’ behalf. A representative from the Cannes Film Festival apologised the next day, and Redvers was invited back to another screening at the festival.

When Redvers arrived in Cannes wearing his moccasins for the second time, he was almost turned away before being recognised by a “higher up” member of staff who was aware of the situation and allowed him to enter.