DOZENS of protesters took their opposition to the attack on French pensions by demonstrating at the Cannes Film Festival on Sunday.

The government of French President Emmanuel Macron pushed through controversial reforms that raised the country’s retirement age from 62 to 64.

Tomas Ghestem, one of the demonstrators, said: “We are against the retirement reforms which will make many people die at work.”

In an authoritarian move ahead of the festival, local authorities in Cannes ordered a ban on rallies throughout much of the area. 

French authorities have increasingly sought to ban demonstrations in some high-profile locations.

But last Friday, hospital workers ignored the ban by protesting on private grounds in front of the Carlton Hotel, a historic luxury hotel where many stars stay during the festival. 

Hotel and catering workers held up a banner reading: “No to pension reforms.”

French unions have called for a new round of nationwide demonstrations on June 6.

The Cannes festival is taking place while Hollywood screenwriters are on strike. 

Film and TV writers are demanding higher pay, reforms to the streaming era and safeguards against the use of artificial intelligence.