Roman Polanski Retrospective in Paris Draws Protests

Before the demonstration on Monday, several women’s rights groups, including Osez le Féminisme, had called for the retrospective to be canceled.

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An online petition signed by more than 28,000 people criticized the timing of the Polanski tribute, citing the widening allegations against the Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein and ensuing social media campaigns that highlighted the extent of sexual abuse.

“I started the petition because I can’t stand anymore the impunity of famous people,” the feminist campaigner Laure Salmona said by telephone. “In France, we have a problem with men who perpetrate sexual violence, but famous people can be convicted or accused by women, and they get away with it.”

Costa-Gavras, a film director and head of the Cinémathèque, said in a statement that it was not the institute’s place to act as an arbiter of morality and dismissed objections to the programming as censorship.

“We don’t award prizes or certificates for good behavior,” he said. “Our ambition is different: to show the complete work of filmmakers and to place them in the permanent history of the Cinémathèque.”

Mr. Polanski, whose films include “Chinatown” and “Rosemary’s Baby,” won the Academy Award for best director for “The Pianist” in 2003. In January, Mr. Polanski was invited to host the César awards, the French equivalent of the Oscars, but declined after the announcement sparked outcry.

Ms. Saloma said that the petition and the protest were about the message that the retrospective sent, adding that it was possible to separate Mr. Polanski’s alleged crimes from his body of work without putting a spotlight on him.

“We can’t continue to praise rapists,” she said, “even if they are great film directors or if they are talented.”

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