Naked Ukraine protest on Cannes red carpet

'Stop raping us' message to Russia from female activist

by Richard Mowe

George Miller arrives for his Cannes screening in the wake of red carpet protest
George Miller arrives for his Cannes screening in the wake of red carpet protest Photo: Richard Mowe

The war in Ukraine erupted on to the Cannes Film Festival red carpet screening of George Miller’s Three Thousand Years Of Longing when a female protester stripped down to her underwear to reveal the colours of the Ukrainian flag across her body with the words “Stop Raping Us”.

She was quickly covered up by security guards although she had managed to evade their attentions up to this point by covering up her blood red body paint.

She screamed at the top of her voice and was revealed in full flood by video footage of the incident. By the time she was removed she was wearing only her panties, revealing the word “Scum” scrawled across her lower back.

Miller, who was last in Cannes with Mad Max Fury Road, did not appear with Three Years Of Longing stars Tilda Swinton and Idris Elba, until the protester had been removed.

The radical feminist activist organisation posted on Twitter that “This activist exposed the war rapes and sexual torture committed on Ukrainian women by Russian soldiers.”

There has been no reaction so far from the Festival organisers.

Share this with others on...
News

A walking contradiction Sinéad O'Shea on James 'Fergie' Chambers Jr and All About The Money

Unconventional families Milcho Manchevski on being blacklisted and making Sister Brother Manhole Cover

Expecting the unexpected Jordan Mark Windsor and Sean Wallace on Mum, I’m Alien Pregnant

Celluloid vampire Arthur Harari on Léa Seydoux, the mystery of ideas, and The Unknown

Family dynamics Sterling Macer Jr. on creating complex characters in Liz Here Now

Patrick Stewart dies X-men and Star Trek actor was 86

Awards season kicks off with the Gothams Full set of nominations announced

More news and features

Interact

Don't forget that you can follow us on YouTube for trailers of festival films and more. You can also find us on Mastodon, Instagram and Bluesky.


It's a busy time for festivals and here's the latest:


Sundance Announces Legacy line-up of archive films


Frightfest Newcastle event announced for May 2027


French Film Festival UK Programme announced


Tallinn Black Nights Documentary line-up and Special Screenings announced


London Winners announced