As a passionate advocate for artistic freedom and a lover of cinema that transcends boundaries, I find myself deeply disheartened by MUBI’s decision to cancel their international film festival in Istanbul. The ban on Luca Guadagnino’s “Queer”, a film that has been warmly received at prestigious festivals like Venice, is a stark reminder of the ongoing struggle for freedom of expression in many parts of the world.
MUBI, a movie streaming service and distributor specializing in art films, decided to call off its international film festival in Istanbul, Turkey due to worries about potential censorship issues at the local level, right before the yearly event was scheduled to begin.
The MUBI Festival had originally planned to kick off on Thursday evening by showcasing the movie “Queer“, directed by Luca Guadagnino and starring Daniel Craig, a film with an LGBTQ+ theme. However, MUBI opted not to proceed with the event, which was scheduled to conclude on November 10th.
Merely hours prior to the commencement of MUBI Fest Istanbul 2024, we received a message from the Kadıkoy District Governor’s Office stating that the showing of Queer, our opening film for the festival, had been prohibited. This information was shared on our Instagram page by MUBI.
The unconventional drama, adapted from William Burroughs’ 1950s-set autobiographical novel, finds Craig portraying an American exile and heroin user living in Mexico City. He encounters a former soldier expat who leads him to believe that he may finally forge a deep emotional bond with someone.
MUBI expressed their opinion that this prohibition serves as a limiting measure on art and creative self-expression. They view festivals as captivating environments where art and cultural richness are honored, fostering unity among individuals. This ban, according to them, strips not only one film but also the essence and intent of the entire event.
The art film distributor expressed its intention to maintain the respectable image that its audience has come to expect, regretfully announcing the cancellation of the entire MUBI Fest Istanbul. We extend our gratitude to all artists, spectators, and supporters who had planned to attend the festival, understanding that they share in our disappointment over this turn of events. In upholding the principles of free speech and artistic expression, we remain steadfast in our commitment to this cause.
At the Venice Film Festival, the movie titled “Queer” received a nine-minute standing ovation following its initial screening that was attended by Craig, his co-star Drew Starkey, and director Guadagnino. Additionally, Jason Schwartzman and Lesley Manville are also part of this A24 period romantic drama. The storyline takes viewers from postwar Mexico City to the Amazon region.
Officials from the Istanbul Governor’s Office declined to provide a statement regarding their choice to prohibit the broadcast of the queer drama.
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2024-11-07 21:55