Pierre Gendronneau, the number 2 at the Avignon Festival, resigns after "accusations" of sexual violence

Pierre Gendronneau, deputy director of the Avignon Festival , will leave his post on June 13, "for personal reasons" and following "accusations" of sexual and gender-based violence in a previous position in another organization, his boss, Tiago Rodrigues, said on Wednesday.

"We announced today to the festival team the departure of Pierre Gendronneau from the position of deputy director, for personal reasons and to pursue other professional horizons," declared Tiago Rodrigues, director of the festival, confirming information from the Télérama website. This departure "was taken by mutual agreement," he specified, without confirming whether it was a mutual termination. Pierre Gendronneau had been appointed in February 2023.

This comes as an internal investigation was "conducted in November and December" by the Egaé law firm, headed by Caroline De Haas. "Several independent lawyers," contacted by the festival, concluded that "the investigation did not reveal any proven facts of harassment or violence on the part of Pierre Gendronneau during his time working at the festival," Tiago Rodrigues continued.

This internal investigation was decided "two days" after the festival was informed, at the beginning of November, that the Ministry of Culture was triggering Article 40 of the Code of Criminal Procedure targeting Pierre Gendronneau, in response to reports that had reached it, he explained.

Following Egaé's investigation, "Pierre Gendronneau continued in his position. However, the fact that there were accusations against him prior to his arrival at the Avignon Festival and other investigations launched created a climate of suspicion towards him. It became impossible for him to carry out his mission," Tiago Rodrigues added.

The Paris Autumn Festival, where Pierre Gendronneau was assistant director Emmanuel Demarcy-Motta, also commissioned the Egaé firm to conduct an investigation. "Nearly two years after his departure, in the fall of 2024, I was informed by an employee who said she had been the victim of sexual harassment by Pierre Gendronneau," explained Emmanuel Demarcy-Motta.

"A report was made to the ministry. I asked to be able to discuss it with all members of the Festival team, and we put a procedure in place to reach a diagnosis. But since Pierre Gendronneau is no longer an employee, there is no room for discussion, and no possible sanctions within the Festival d'Automne," he added.

Prior to 2023, Pierre Gendronneau was also a production manager at the Scène nationale de Sénart and a production director at the Centre dramatique national de Montreuil. The 79th edition of the Avignon Festival is scheduled for July 5-26.