Dominique Boutonnat, the head of France’s top cinema institution, was sentenced to three years in prison, with two years suspended, for sexually assaulting his godson in 2020. He announced his resignation from the National Centre of Cinema (CNC) immediately after the ruling.
Boutonnat, 54, will serve one year at home with an electronic bracelet and is forbidden from contacting the victim for three years. Despite maintaining his innocence and planning to appeal, Boutonnat’s godson accused him of inappropriate behavior during a trip to Greece.
The verdict highlighted the victim’s testimony as credible, acknowledging Boutonnat’s influence over him. This case adds to the #MeToo movement in French cinema, with high-profile figures like Gérard Depardieu facing similar accusations.