Mubi Cancels Turkish Festival After Country Bans ‘Queer’ Screening

As a seasoned movie critic who has traversed the globe, attending film festivals in the most diverse and vibrant cities, I must say, the recent turn of events at Mubi Fest Istanbul 2024 leaves me disheartened. The ban on Luca Guadagnino’s “Queer,” a film that dares to explore complex human emotions and experiences, is a regrettable reminder of how far we still have to go in our pursuit of true freedom of expression and artistic liberty.


Mubi has cancelled a whole festival they had planned in Turkey, as local officials prohibited the showing of Luca Guadagnino’s “Queer.

Originally planned to host the Mubi Fest Istanbul from November 7-10 in the Turkish capital, the art house distributor and streamer decided to call off the entire event after being instructed to withdraw the screening of their opening film “Queer.” The movie, based on William S. Burroughs’ novel and featuring Daniel Craig as a gay expat residing in Mexico, was considered too provocative due to its content.

A few hours before the launch of MUBI Fest Istanbul 2024, we received a notification from the Kadıkoy District Governor’s Office stating that the screening of Queer, our opening film for the festival, had been prohibited,” MUBI announced on Instagram.

As a supporter, I learned that the authorities have decided to ban this movie due to its sensitive material. They believe the content could potentially stir up unrest among the public, jeopardizing peace. The ban is being implemented for safety purposes.

MUBI strongly criticized the ruling, characterizing it as an impediment to creative self-expression and open dialogue, thus diminishing the essence and intent of the event.

It is with regret that we’ve made the decision to cancel the entire MUBI Fest Istanbul, as stated.

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2024-11-07 21:16