French CNC CEO Dominique Boutonnat steps down after being sentenced to prison for sexual assault

Dominique Boutonnat, president of the French CNC, announced today (June 28) that he is leaving his position after being sentenced by a French court to three years in prison for sexual assault.

Two of those years were suspended, with one year to be served under electronic monitoring, meaning he will not spend any time in prison.

Culture Minister Rachida Dati has appointed CNC deputy managing director Olivier Henrard as interim director.

Boutonnat appeared in court on June 14 in Nanterre. Today he confirmed that he was charged and sentenced to three years in prison, t Boutonnat is also banned from having any contact with the victim for three years and will be included on the list of perpetrators of sexual or violent crimes.

Boutonnat maintains his innocence and plans to appeal.

However, in a letter to the organization that Screen.he saw, he said: “In order not to harm, even if only in terms of image, the institution for which the President of the Republic of Poland has entrusted me with responsibility, I have decided to cease performing my duties as of today.”

He added: “Although the alleged facts have nothing to do with my professional situation, I know that the publicity given to them has created a special context for CNC, especially in recent weeks.”

Boutonnat was accused of sexual assault by his 19-year-old godson, a charge he faced in February 2021. Despite the allegations, he was reappointed for a second three-year term in 2022 and continues to lead the organization and make public appearances at high-profile events, including the Cannes Film Festival in May.

Calls for his resignation, which resulted in a petition calling for him to step down, were backed by organizations including Collectif 50/50, CGT-spectacle and actress Judith Godrèche, who has recently been leading the broader #MeToo movement in the French film industry.