French authorities have detained two prominent art film directors, Benoit Jacquot and Jacques Doillon, over allegations of sexual abuse, amid a renewed #MeToo movement that is shaking the foundations of France's film industry.

Jacquot, 77, and Doillon, 80, were taken into custody at a police station in Paris on Monday morning, accompanied by their legal representatives, as reported by the AFP news agency.

Their detention, related to alleged abuses dating back to the 1980s, all of which they deny, highlights the long-standing issue of abuse within French cinema that activists claim has been shielded for too long.

Earlier this year, 52-year-old actor and director Judith Godreche formally accused Jacquot of rape and Doillon of sexual assault when she was a minor, accusations vehemently denied by the two directors.

According to Godreche, Jacquot held an unhealthy power dynamic over her during a relationship characterized by perversion that began when she was just 14, spanning from 1986 to 1992.

She also accused Doillon of inappropriate conduct during a screen test for one of his films when she was 15 and still involved with Jacquot.

Several other actors have also come forward with complaints against both directors.

Isild Le Besco, 41, alleged that Jacquot raped her from 1998 to 2007, starting when she was 16 and he was 52.

Accusations also came from 34-year-old actor Julia Roy, who claimed sexual assault by Jacquot in a coercive and violent context over several years.

Le Besco further accused Doillon of making advances during work sessions, while actor Anna Mouglalis accused the filmmaker of forcibly kissing her in 2011.

‘I am crying’

Judicial sources indicate that both filmmakers might be held until Tuesday evening and potentially face questioning in the presence of their accusers.

The directors' legal representatives stressed that there was no necessity to detain them for interrogation and emphasized their right to be considered innocent until proven guilty.

Jacquot's lawyer, Julia Minkowski, denounced the excessive media coverage around the issue, stating that her client would have the opportunity to defend himself before the law.

Doillon’s lawyer, Marie Dose, questioned the need to detain him for questioning "36 years" after the alleged incident, suggesting that queries could have been addressed without custody.

While the prosecutor's office confirmed the detentions, it noted that both men were presumed innocent until further legal proceedings.

Showing her emotions on Instagram, Godreche expressed deep emotion, stating, "I am crying."

Following her public accusations, Godreche has become a prominent figure in the #MeToo movement in France.

Appealing for an oversight body in the cinema industry, French lawmakers recently voted to establish a commission to investigate sexual and gender-based violence in film and cultural sectors.