A Ukrainian model says she has filed a legal complaint against the organisers of Cannes Film Festival after she was "assaulted" by security guards whilst walking the red carpet.
Posting to social media on Wednesday, Sawa Pontyjska said she was looking for a lawyer to help her sue the festival after she experienced "unreasonable physical force" by staff.
Loading Instagram content
"I had always dreamed of getting into the Cannes Film Festival," she said.
"But then I was shocked about the rudeness, and unreasonable use of force I experienced on the red carpet."
Video shows the incident at the top of the stairs at the Palais des Festivals where Ms Pontjyska appears to be ushered by a female security guard who then wraps both arms around her.
When she appears to try to free herself and leave, more guards step in and move her through the doors.
Ms Pontjyska told the BBC she was not doing anything wrong and was "violently kicked" out of the back door by the female attendant.
After Ms Pontyjska's initial post, she shared photos of what appeared to be a legal complaint and photos in and outside the Cannes local court.
The document accused the festival of "physical assault and psychological damage".
It said she was seeking 100,000 euros ($163,000) in damages.
Cannes Film Festival organisers have been contacted by the ABC for comment.
The model, also known for her title of Miss Europe 2023, is the fourth person to make allegations about treatment on the red carpet during the 2024 festival.
Three women of colour — singer and actor Kelly Rowland, Dominican actor Massiel Taveras and K-pop star Im Yoon-ah — have now all spoken out about how they were treated as they were ushered along the red carpet.
Rowland was attending the premiere of Marcello Mio on Tuesday when she was forcefully led up stairs by a pair of ushers, who formed a barrier with their arms behind her.
In video circulating on social media, Rowland can be seen sternly talking to one of the ushers, and has since given a statement to the AP alleging she was racially profiled.
"I have a boundary, and I stand by those boundaries, and that is it. And there were other women that attended that carpet who did not quite look like me, and they didn't get scolded or pushed off or told to get off. I stood my ground, and she [the security guard] felt like she had to stand hers, but I stood my ground," she said.
Cannes Film Festival has repeatedly come under fire for its treatment of people of colour, and in recent years has worked towards increased diversity in its jury and film selections.
The festival is known for having strict rules on the red carpet.