Cate Blanchett leads women march, demands parity at Cannes Film Festival

It was a historic moment as Hollywood star Cate Blanchett, this year's president of the Cannes Film Festival jury, led a women's march up the stairs of the iconic Palais des Festivals theatre to promote equality for women at the French Riviera.

The demonstration assembled major Hollywood stars, including Salma Hayek, Kristen Stewart, Jane Fonda, Marion Cotillard, Lea Seydoux, Ava DuVernay, Patty Jenkins, Sofia Boutella and other directors and industry executives.

"As women, we all face our own unique challenges, but we stand together on these stairs today as a symbol of our determination and commitment to progress.

"We will demand that our workplaces are diverse and equitable so that they can best reflect the world in which we actually live a world that allows all of us behind and in front of the camera to thrive shoulder to shoulder with our male colleagues. We acknowledge all of the women and men who are standing for change," Blanchett said.

Agnes Varda, the legendary French film director of "Faces Places," added, "The stairs of our industry must be accessible to all. Let's climb."