Steve McQueen Drops Out of Camerimage Over Founder’s Controversial Op-Ed About Female Cinematographers (Exclusive)

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As a seasoned gamer with countless hours spent navigating through virtual worlds, I can’t help but draw parallels between the cinematic industry and my beloved video games. The ongoing saga at Camerimage Film Festival is a stark reminder that even in the realm of art, we still grapple with age-old issues like gender inequality.

Director Steve McQueen, of “Blitz,” has withdrawn from Poland’s Camerimage Film Festival after an opinion piece about female cinematographers by festival founder and CEO Marek Żydowicz caused controversy prior to the launch of the 32nd edition of this industry event focusing on cinematography art.

The filmmaker stated in an exclusive interview with The Hollywood Reporter that they won’t attend the premiere of their movie “Blitz” this weekend. This decision follows Marek Zydowicz’s article about female cinematographers, as they find certain remarks made unacceptable and offensive. Despite his apology, the filmmaker feels it’s difficult to overlook such words. They hold cinematographers of all genders in high regard, particularly women, and are committed to pushing for change and inclusivity to ensure a more diverse industry.

The initial plan had the event starting on Saturday, featuring a showing of McQueen’s newest movie, with the Academy Award-winning director present. However, he will no longer be attending. The film remains set as the opening night film, but the director will not be there to accept it. Additionally, he was due to receive the exceptional director award during the opening ceremony, but this is now uncertain. THR has made contact with Camerimage for more information.

The movie “Blitz” chronicles the journey of a nine-year-old boy named George (Elliott Heffernan) who is sent to the English countryside as an evacuee during wartime London, following his mother Rita’s (Saoirse Ronan) decision. Despite being stubborn and insistent on returning home by himself to reunite with his mother and grandfather Gerald (Paul Weller) in East London, George faces genuine peril when his desperate mother attempts to locate him. The film emphasizes the indomitable spirit of women and delves into significant tales of them during World War II, illustrating that mothers will go to any lengths in their unwavering love for their children.

In the most recent issue of Cinematography World magazine, an article penned by Żydowicz was published as a reaction to a September petition from Women in Cinematography, a worldwide union advocating for female directors of photography. This petition urged Camerimage to enhance its support for women cinematographers’ work. Instead of pledging to boost representation in the festival’s lineup, like the heads of Cannes, Berlin, and Tokyo film festivals have done in recent times, Żydowicz put forth an argument suggesting that featuring more female DPs could potentially lower the artistic integrity of the event.

In his writing, Żydowicz points out that the movie business is experiencing swift transformations, impacting visual storytelling, themes, and overall style. One of the major shifts is the increasing appreciation for female cinematographers and directors. This progression is important because it addresses the glaring inequality in societal growth. Yet, a question arises: Could this push for change potentially dismiss what’s excellent? Is it acceptable to discard masterpieces and talented artists with exceptional artistic accomplishments just to accommodate average filmmaking?

Word about Żydowicz’s work quickly traveled through the worldwide network of cinematographers, prompting an almost instant response from the community.

On their official website, the British Society of Cinematographers, an association founded back in 1949, posted a strong-worded message expressing disapproval.

In an open letter titled ‘Letter to Żydowicz’, the BSC voices its disagreement with your latest piece in Cinematography World. We’re deeply troubled and upset by the disrespectful and misogynistic remarks you made, along with the hostile tone, which we believe reveals a deeply ingrained bias.

The American Society of Cinematographers (ASC) swiftly voiced its agreement with the BSC’s letter, while the Canadian Society of Cinematographers (CSC), Association of Brazilian Cinematographers (ABC), Society of Camera Operators, and Women Cinematographers Network (based in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland) also added their criticisms to the mix.

Distinguished figures from the industry are anticipated to attend the event, such as Cate Blanchett, who is presiding over the 2024 competition jury, along with Hiroyuki Sanada of ‘Shogun’, as well as several DPs considered strong contenders for Oscars, including Greig Fraser (‘Dune 2’), Jarin Blaschke (‘Nosferatu’), Alice Brooks (‘Wicked’), Lol Crawley (‘The Brutalist’), Stéphane Fontaine (‘Conclave’), Ed Lachman (‘Maria’), Paul Guillaume (‘Emilia Perez’), and numerous other prominent figures in the field.

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2024-11-12 21:55