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The leaders of the Cesar Awards , the French equivalent of the Oscars, have resigned en-masse after controversy surrounding director Roman Polanski .
Polanski’s film An Officer and a Spy ,
The film was launched in France last year just days after a French actor accused Polanski of raping her in 1975 during a ski holiday in Gstaad, Switzerland, when she was 18-years-old.
Polanski, 86, has denied the accusation.
The French-Polish director fled the US after pleading guilty in 1977 to having unlawful sex with a 13-year-old girl in Los Angeles.
The decision to recognise An Officer and a Spy caused a backlash among feminist groups and Polanski's critics, along with calls to boycott the film.
Show all 65 1 /65Oscars 2020 in pictures Bong Joon Ho, right, reacts as he is presented with the award for best picture for "Parasite" from presenter Jane Fonda at the Oscars on Sunday, Feb. 9, 2020, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. Looking on from left are Kang-Ho Song and Kwak Sin Ae
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Renee Zellweger accepts the Oscar for Best Actress for "Judy" at the 92nd Academy Awards in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, U.S., February 9, 2020
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Best Feature Documentary winners (L-R) Lindsay Utz, Julia Reichert, Julie Parker Benello, and Steven Bognar walk backstage during the 92nd Oscars at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California on February 9, 2020
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Joaquin Phoenix wins the Oscar for Best Actor in "Joker" at the 92nd Academy Awards in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, U.S., February 9, 2020
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Renee Zelllweger accepts the Oscar for Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role for 'Judy' during the 92nd annual Academy Awards ceremony at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California, USA, 09 February 2020. The Oscars are presented for outstanding individual or collective efforts in filmmaking in 24 categories
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Mark Taylor (C-L) and British sound engineer Stuart Wilson (C-R) pose in the press room with Salma Hayeck and Oscar Isaac with the Oscar for Best Sound Mixing for '1917' during the 92nd annual Academy Awards ceremony at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California, USA, 09 February 2020. The Oscars are presented for outstanding individual or collective efforts in filmmaking in 24 categories
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Shia LaBeouf (R) and Zack Gottsagen arrives for the 92nd annual Academy Awards ceremony at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California, USA, 09 February 2020. The Oscars are presented for outstanding individual or collective efforts in filmmaking in 24 categories
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James Corden and Rebel Wilson stand backstage in cat costumes during the 92nd Annual Academy Awards at the Dolby Theatre on February 09, 2020 in Hollywood, California
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Kwak Sin Ae and Bong Joon-ho win the Oscar for Best Picture for "Parasite" at the 92nd Academy Awards in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, U.S., February 9, 2020.
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Bong Joon Ho walks offstage with Spike Lee after winning the Oscar for Best Director for "Parasite" at the 92nd Academy Awards in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, U.S., February 9, 2020
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Kobe Bryant's name is displayed during the In Memoriam Oscars tribute at the 92nd Academy Awards in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, U.S., February 9, 2020.
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Bong Joon Ho, left, is congratulated by Brad Pitt before going on stage to accept the award for best director for "Parasite" at the Oscars on Sunday, Feb. 9, 2020, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles
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Karen Rupert Toliver walks backstage with the award for Animated Short Film backstage during the 92nd Oscars at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California on February 9, 2020
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Mark Taylor and Stuart Wilson with the Best Sound Mixing Oscar for 1917 in the press room at the 92nd Academy Awards held at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, Los Angeles, USA. PA Photo. Picture date: Sunday February 9, 2020. See PA story SHOWBIZ Oscars
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Olivia Colman presents the award for best performance by an actor in a leading role at the Oscars on Sunday, Feb. 9, 2020, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles
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Carol Dysinger (L) and Elena Andreicheva pose in the press room with Mark Ruffalo with the Oscar for Best Documentary Short Subject for '“Learning to Skateboard in a Warzone (If You're a Girl)' during the 92nd annual Academy Awards ceremony at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California, USA, 09 February 2020. The Oscars are presented for outstanding individual or collective efforts in filmmaking in 24 categories.
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Brie Larson walking barefoot at the 92nd Academy Awards in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, U.S., February 9, 2020
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Bong Joon-ho talks to Sam Mendes after winning the Oscar for Best Director for "Parasite" at the 92nd Academy Awards in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, U.S., February 9, 2020
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Bong Joon Ho accpets his Oscar for Achievement in Directing for 'Parasite' during the 92nd annual Academy Awards ceremony at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California, USA, 09 February 2020. The Oscars are presented for outstanding individual or collective efforts in filmmaking in 24 categories
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US singer-songwriter Billie Eilish performs onstage during the 92nd Oscars at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California on February 9, 2020
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Icelandic composer Hildur Gudnadottir poses in the press room with the Oscar for Best Original Score for "Joker" during the 92nd Oscars at the Dolby Theater in Hollywood, California on February 9, 2020
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British singer-songwriter Elton John (L) and British lyricist Bernie Taupin pose in the press room with the Oscar for Best Original Song for "(I'm Gonna) Love Me Again, 'Rocketman'" during the 92nd Oscars at the Dolby Theater in Hollywood, California on February 9, 2020
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Joaquin Phoenix, from left, hugs Shia LaBeouf in the audience, as Zack Gottsagen looks on, at the Oscars on Sunday, Feb. 9, 2020, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles
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Maya Rudolph and Kristen Wiig in Valentino present the Oscar for Best Production Design at the 92nd Academy Awards in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, U.S., February 9, 2020
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Regina King walks backstage during the 92nd Oscars at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California on February 9, 2020
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Brie Larson and Elijah Allan-Blitz walk on the red carpet during the Oscars arrivals at the 92nd Academy Awards in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, U.S., February 9, 2020
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Mahershala Ali and Amatus Sami-Karim arrive on the red carpet during the Oscars arrivals at the 92nd Academy Awards in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, U.S., February 9, 2020
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Scarlett Johansson, left, congratulates Laura Dern, winner of the award for best performance by an actress in a supporting role for "Marriage Story" at the Oscars on Sunday, Feb. 9, 2020
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Marshall Curry, winner of the award for best live action short film for "The Neighbors' Window", poses in the press room at the Oscars on Sunday, Feb. 9, 2020, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles
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People take photos as VIP guests arrive for the 92nd annual Academy Awards ceremony at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California, USA, 09 February 2020. The Oscars are presented for outstanding individual or collective efforts in filmmaking in 24 categories
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US actress Laura Dern (R) poses next to US actor Mahershala Ali with the award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for "Marriage Story" in the press room during the 92nd Oscars at the Dolby Theater in Hollywood, California on February 9, 2020
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Lin-Manuel Miranda during the 92nd annual Academy Awards ceremony at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California, USA, 09 February 2020. The Oscars are presented for outstanding individual or collective efforts in filmmaking in 24 categories
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US-Guatemalan actor Oscar Isaac (L) and US-Mexican actress Salma Hayek speak onstage during the 92nd Oscars at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California on February 9, 2020
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US actress Laura Dern poses with the award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for "Marriage Story" in the press room during the 92nd Oscars at the Dolby Theater in Hollywood, California
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Natalie Portman and Timothee Chalamet present Taika Waititi with his Best Adapted Screenplay for Jojo Rabbit in the press room at the 92nd Academy Awards held at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, Los Angeles
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Oscars statuettes are on display backstage during the 92nd Annual Academy Awards at the Dolby Theatre on February 09, 2020 in Hollywood, California
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Aurora smiles backstage during the 92nd Oscars at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California on February 9, 2020
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Eminem performs during the 92nd annual Academy Awards ceremony at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California, USA, 09 February 2020. The Oscars are presented for outstanding individual or collective efforts in filmmaking in 24 categories
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British costume designer Jacqueline Durran poses in the press room with the Oscar for Best Costume Design for "Little Women" during the 92nd Oscars at the Dolby Theater in Hollywood, California on February 9, 2020
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Kristen Wiig arrives for the 92nd annual Academy Awards ceremony at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California, USA, 09 February 2020. The Oscars are presented for outstanding individual or collective efforts in filmmaking in 24 categories
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Joaquin Phoenix, left, and Rooney Mara arrive at the Oscars on Sunday, Feb. 9, 2020, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles
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Keanu Reeves (R) and his mother Patricia Taylor arrive for the 92nd annual Academy Awards ceremony at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California, USA, 09 February 2020. The Oscars are presented for outstanding individual or collective efforts in filmmaking in 24 categories
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Cynthia Erivo in Versace poses on the red carpet during the Oscars arrivals at the 92nd Academy Awards in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, U.S., February 9, 2020
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Janelle Monaeand Billy Porter performs during the 92nd annual Academy Awards ceremony at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California, USA, 09 February 2020. The Oscars are presented for outstanding individual or collective efforts in filmmaking in 24 categories
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US actress Scarlett Johansson arrives with husband Colin Jost for the 92nd Oscars at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California on February 9, 2020
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A general view of the Oscars show during the 92nd Academy Awards in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, U.S., February 9, 2020
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US actors Steve Martin and Chris Rock (R) speak onstage during the 92nd Oscars at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California on February 9, 2020
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Margot Robbie talks with Leonardo DiCaprio on the red carpet during the Oscars arrivals at the 92nd Academy Awards in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, U.S., February 9,
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Regina King, left, presents Brad Pitt with the award for best performance by an actor in a supporting role for "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood" at the Oscars on Sunday, Feb. 9, 2020, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles
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Brad Pitt accepts the award for best performance by an actor in a supporting role for "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood" at the Oscars on Sunday, Feb. 9, 2020, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles
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Florence Pugh arrives at the Oscars on Sunday, Feb. 9, 2020, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles
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Olivia Colman arrives at the Oscars on Sunday, Feb. 9, 2020, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles
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Jonathan Pryce arrives at the Oscars on Sunday, Feb. 9, 2020, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angele
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The cast of "Parasite" poses on the red carpet during the Oscars arrivals at the 92nd Academy Awards in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
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Pedro Almodovar poses on the red carpet during the Oscars arrivals at the 92nd Academy Awards in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, U.S
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Australian actress Rebel Wilson arrives for the 92nd Oscars at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California
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Billie Eilish (C) and Finneas O'Connell (L) pose with Billy Porter during the Oscars arrivals at the 92nd Academy Awards in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, U.S.,
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Janelle Monae arrives for the 92nd annual Academy Awards ceremony at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California, USA, 09 February 2020. The Oscars are presented for outstanding individual or collective efforts in filmmaking in 24 categories.
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British actor Archie Yates and British actor Roman Griffin Davis from "Jojo Rabbit" arrive for the 92nd Oscars at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California on February 9, 2020.
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Sandra Oh poses on the red carpet during the Oscars arrivals at the 92nd Academy Awards in Hollywood, Los Angeles,
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Antonio Banderas arrives for the 92nd annual Academy Awards ceremony at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California, USA, 09 February 2020. The Oscars are presented for outstanding individual or collective efforts in filmmaking in 24 categories
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Kaitlin Dever, Beanie Feldstein and Roman Griffin Davis pose for a selfie on the red carpet during the Oscars arrivals at the 92nd Academy Awards in Hollywood, Los Angeles
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Billie Eilish in Chanel during the Oscars arrivals at the 92nd Academy Awards in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, U.S
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Mindy Kaling arrives at the Oscars on Sunday, Feb. 9, 2020, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles
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Saoirse Ronan arrives at the Oscars on Sunday, Feb. 9, 2020, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles
Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP
“To honour those who made films in 2019, to regain serenity and make the cinema festival a celebration, the board of directors of the [film academy] made a unanimous decision to resign,” the French film academy said in a statement.
“This collective decision will allow complete renewal of the board.”
A general meeting is set to be held after this month’s ceremony to elect a new board, which will look at modernising the institution.
French culture minister Franck Riester said the César Academy must operate democratically, in the spirit of “openness, transparency, parity and diversity”.
Polanski was expelled from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in 2018.
Additional reporting by Reuters
