Cannes Film Festival: what IS your policy on high heels?

Cannes Film Festival has turned away women from a red carpet screening for wearing flat shoes instead of heels, including some who were older and with medical conditions.

Screen Daily says the festival confirmed heels were obligatory for women at red carpet screenings. The director of the festival said the "rumours" were "unfounded".

A "Cannes regular" reported that a woman wearing Rhinestone-encrusted flat shoes was denied entry: "Someone I know was turned away for wearing nice flats, nothing you would wear to the beach. They were in their 50s. They told her she could go and buy appropriate shoes and come back."

Asif Kapadia, whose Amy Winehouse documentary screened at the festival last weekend, also tweeted that his wife had been challenged over wearing flat shoes, although she was eventually allowed in. In their denial of the events, is the director of Cannes calling Kapadia a liar?

A spokesperson for the festival said: "Rules have not changed throughout the years (tuxedo, formal dress for gala screenings) and there is no specific mention about the height of the women's heels as well as for men's." She added that hosts and hostesses were reminded of the rules.

Clearly the rules are not clear enough and are being interpreted in different ways by Cannes staff. Please sign this petition to demand that Cannes come out and make a clear statement that flat shoes can be worn by anyone on the red carpet.