As a fervent admirer of the art of cinematography and its practitioners, I find myself deeply troubled by the recent turn of events surrounding Marek Żydowicz, the esteemed festival director of EnergaCamerimage. His life’s work has been dedicated to honoring those who are often overlooked in the world of film, and yet his recent comments have cast a shadow over this noble pursuit.
Festival director Marek Żydowicz commenced the 32nd installment of EnergaCamerimage without explicitly mentioning his recent contentious remarks, instead emphasizing that the event was established to celebrate individuals who often go unnoticed or undervalued by other award ceremonies.
During the ongoing opening ceremony in Torun, Poland, he additionally pointed out that “our surroundings are filled with deceitful and misleading visuals” and commended cinematographers for being the remedy. “They are the ones who produce what we perceive,” he stated.
In a recent article published in Cinematography World magazine, Żydowicz seemed to imply that increasing female cinematographers and directors in the selection process might result in the acceptance of “lesser quality film productions.
This provoked allegations of misogyny, leading to responses from groups including Women in Cinematography, the British Society of Cinematographers, American Society of Cinematographers and leaders of the International Cinematographers Guild (IATSE Local 600). A portion of a BSC letter read, “We are disheartened and angered by your profoundly misogynistic comments and aggressive tone, which we view as symptomatic of a deep-rooted prejudice. A film festival dedicated to the support and encouragement of cinematography and its practitioners deserves better.”
In reply to the BSC letter, Żydowicz explained that his remarks were based on a misunderstanding. A relevant excerpt states: “Respecting others has always been my top priority, and this remains true for our festival as well. … Our goal has always been to showcase the finest of contemporary cinema, regardless of its creator’s gender. This is how my statement should be interpreted; it contains no additional meaning, and it is not indicative of a lack of respect towards women.
In its reaction, Women in Cinematography proposed actions they believe could bring about constructive changes within the festival.
This week, the main jury of Camerimage, headed by Cate Blanchett, released a declaration expressing their backing for the festival and their dedication to engaging in substantial conversations following the contentious remarks.
The event kicked off featuring a pre-recorded speech by the renowned conceptual and performance artist Marina Abramović, graciously acknowledging her Camerimage award honoring her artistic accomplishments.
After the conclusion of the ceremony, it has been arranged for Steve McQueen’s World War II drama “Blitz” to screen as the opening night film in competition. However, due to the recent uproar, McQueen has decided to postpone his visit to Camerimage this week.
On a Friday, Coralie Fargeat withdrew her movie “The Substance” from the festival, following similar comments as well.
Camerimage runs through Nov. 23.
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2024-11-16 19:46