Roman Polanski: Actress walkout as he wins best director at ‘French Oscars’

(FASTNEWS | COLOMBO) – Several actresses have walked out of the César awards ceremony in Paris after Roman Polanski, who was convicted of the statutory rape of a 13 year old in 1977, won best director.

The awards – France’s equivalent of the Oscars – have been mired in controversy after Polanski’s An Officer and a Spy received 12 nominations.

The Polish-French director fled the US after his rape conviction in the 1970s.

He has since faced other accusations of sexual assault.

n Officer and a Spy, or J’accuse in French, is about the Dreyfus affair in 19th Century France and won a total of three awards on Friday night.

Polanski and members of his crew did not attend the event, with the director having said previously that he feared for his safety.

The prize for best film was awarded to Les Misérables by director Ladj Ly.

‘Disgusted’

Actress Adèle Haenel, who has said she was sexually abused as a child by another director, was one of the women who walked out of the ceremony after Polanski’s win was announced.

She left the room saying “shame!”, and was followed by director Céline Sciamma.