Cate Blanchett was at the forefront of a women’s march at the Cannes Film Festival this weekend. Cate is the jury president, and along with French director Agnes Varda, they stood with 82 women stood to speak out against gender pay disparity and support female voices in the industry.

“On these steps today stand 82 women representing the number of female directors who have climbed these stairs since the first edition of the Cannes Film Festival in 1946. In the same period 1,688 male directors have climbed these very same stairs,” Cate began. “In the 71 years of this world-renowned festival, there have been 12 female heads of its juries. The prestigious Palme d’Or has been bestowed on 71 male directors — too numerous to mention by name — but only two female directors: Jane Campion, who is with us in spirit, and the wonderful Agnès Varda, who stands with us today. These facts are stark and undeniable.”

“Women are not a minority in the world, yet the current state of our industry says otherwise,” she said. “As women, we all face our own unique challenges, but we stand together on these steps today as a symbol of our determination and commitment to progress. We are writers, we are producers, we are directors, actresses, cinematographers, talent agents, editors, distributors, sales agents, and all of us are involved in the cinematic arts. And we stand in solidarity with women of all industries.”

Watch Cate Blanchett’s impassioned speech about gender equality at the #CannesWomensMarch https://t.co/jdSvqhW0j7 pic.twitter.com/bYYstuG60c

— Variety (@Variety) May 12, 2018