Cannes Tightens Red Carpet Rules, Halle Berry Complies With Last-Minute Switch

New dress code rules includes a strict no nudity policy and a ban on outfits with a large train, such as the one Halle originally planned to wear.

U.S. actress and jury member of the 78th Cannes Film Festival Halle Berry arrives for the festival’s opening ceremony and the screening of the film "Partir un Jour" (Bye Bye) in Cannes, France, on May 13, 2025. Valery Hache/AFP via Getty Images

A new change to the dress code policy for the 2025 Cannes Film Festival has left Oscar-winning actress Halle Berry forced to undergo a last-minute outfit change to comply.

Just one day before its opening ceremony on May 13, the festival updated its rules for attendees, which included a strict no-nudity policy.

“For decency reasons, nudity is prohibited on the Red Carpet, as well as in any other area of the Festival,” read the guidelines.

“Voluminous outfits, in particular those with a large train, that hinder the proper flow of traffic of guests and complicate seating in the theater are not permitted.”

Traditional evening wear—such as a long dress or tuxedo—is required, with cocktail dresses, pantsuits, elegant tops, shoes, or sandals without high heels also allowed.

A festival welcoming team will be on site, and those who do not adhere to the rules will not be granted red carpet access.

Berry, 58, stepped out with a black-and-white striped halter dress for the event’s opening night and walked the red carpet, but admitted during a press conference that it wasn’t her first choice.

“I had an amazing dress by [Indian designer Gaurav] Gupta to wear tonight, and I cannot wear it because the train is too big,” Berry said. “So I, of course, am going to follow the rules.”

“I had to make a pivot, but the nudity part, I do think, is probably also a good rule,” she said.

This year, the “Monster’s Ball” actress sits on the nine-member jury for the festival, which is responsible for selecting award winners including the Palme d'Or (Golden Palm) for best film.

The jury is made up of artists from across the globe, which includes filmmakers, actors and other distinguished figures.

“This is a huge honor to be asked to be a part of this jury,” Berry said. “This is one of the biggest film festivals in the world ... careers are made in this festival, so I take it as a real honor to be here and share this experience with these wonderful jurors.”

Cannes did not disclose the exact reasoning behind the dress policy change; however, this isn’t the first time the festival has tightened guidelines.

In the past, organizers have critiqued female attendees who did not wear high heels and men who wore colors deemed too vibrant.