‘The Substance’ Director Coralie Fargeat Pulls Film From Camerimage Following Festival Head’s Comments About Women

As a lifelong cinema enthusiast who has witnessed the evolving landscape of the film industry, I must say that the recent events surrounding the Camerimage Film Festival have left me both saddened and inspired. The comments made by festival director Marek Żydowicz, while regrettable, have shed light on a crucial issue that requires our immediate attention – gender representation and inclusion in the world of filmmaking.

Coralie Fargeat decided to withdraw her movie “The Substance” from the Camerimage Film Festival, in response to remarks made by the festival’s director concerning female cinematographers.

Following the revelation of derogatory, sexist comments made by the Camerimage Film Festival director, I’ve chosen to withdraw ‘The Substance’ from the event, and Benjamin Kračun has opted not to attend. In a statement shared on her X account, Fargeat explained that ‘The Substance’ tackles such harmful behaviors, and it’s time we no longer tolerate them. She expressed solidarity with everyone involved in the festival and hoped this action would foster positive change.

— Coralie Fargeat (@coraliefargeat) November 15, 2024

In an article featured in Cinematography World magazine, festival director Marek Żydowicz seemed to imply that expanding the representation of female cinematographers and directors within the festival’s selections might potentially result in the acceptance of “lesser-quality films.

He questioned whether we should discard what is appreciated and important solely to facilitate social transformation. While events like Cannes, Berlin, and Venice are often criticized for their selections because they align with or bolster political or ideological viewpoints, Camerimage stands firm in upholding artistic values as the primary standard for judging and promoting cinematic art.

Steve McQueen also decided to skip the festival in Torun, Poland, where his new movie “Blitz” was scheduled for its premiere on the opening night. Initially, he was due to be honored with the exceptional director award during the event in Torun, Poland.

McQueen stated through EbMaster that he won’t be attending the premiere of his movie ‘Blitz’ this weekend, following Marek Zydowicz’s op-ed on female cinematographers. Despite Zydowicz’s apology, McQueen finds the words offensive and feels they don’t align with his values. He highly esteems cinematographers of all genders, particularly women, and advocates for improved practices to ensure everyone has an equal opportunity in the industry.

In response to Steve McQueen’s withdrawal from the festival, Żydowicz said in a statement to EbMaster: “I accepted his decision with great sadness. I apologize again for any misunderstandings that may have occurred. I would like to use this moment as an opportunity to engage in an open dialogue about how we can work together more inclusively in the future. The festival is a place where we come together as a community to appreciate shared images, and I believe it’s important that we do so with openness and understanding. Let’s have a meaningful conversation as a community, so that we can rebuild and move forward in a fairer way.

Despite the recent controversy, Cate Blanchett will continue as the jury head. Alongside Anthony Dod Mantle, Higgs, Powell, Rodrigo Prieto, Lukasz Zal, and Jolanta Dylewska, she issued a statement this week addressing the situation. The statement expressed their openness to discussions about gender representation in the industry, stating that they are eager to participate in significant conversations with their peers at the festival about promoting greater inclusion and recognizing excellence in all its forms.

2024-11-15 23:46

‘The Substance’ Director Coralie Fargeat Pulls Film From Camerimage Following Festival Head’s Comments About Women

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