Steve McQueen Not Attending ‘Blitz’ Camerimage Premiere Over Festival Director’s Comments About Women: ‘I Cannot Get Past What I Consider Deeply Offensive Words’
Steve McQueen is no longer attending the opening night screening of his new film “Blitz” at Camerimage Film Festival over comments the festival director made about women cinematographers. He had been set to receive the outstanding director award at the event in Toruń, Poland.
“Having read Marek Zydowicz’s op-ed concerning female cinematographers, I have decided not to attend the opening night presentation of my film ‘Blitz’ this weekend,” McQueen said in a statement to Variety. “Although he has issued an apology, I cannot get past what I consider deeply offensive words. I have enormous respect for cinematographers of all genders including women, and believe we have to do and demand better to make room for everyone at the table.”
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In a column published in Cinematography World magazine, festival director Marek ?ydowicz appeared to suggest that having greater representation of women DPs and directors in the event’s selection could lead to the inclusion of “mediocre film productions.”
“Should we reject what is esteemed and valuable just to ‘make space’ for the necessity of social change?” he wrote. “Whilst festivals like Cannes, Berlin or Venice are criticized for their selections due to succumbing to or promoting [political or ideological trends], Camerimage remains committed to artistic values as the foremost criterion for qualifying and promoting film art.”
The op-ed has sparked controversy for the festival, which opens on Saturday in and is hosting the world premiere of “Rust,” the Western starring Alec Baldwin that resulted in the on-set death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins.
In response to ?ydowicz’s statement, the British Society of Cinematographers published an open letter to the festival director, saying: “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.”
?ydowicz fired back that the accusations in the letter were “entirely misplaced and quite offensive,” adding: “Respect for others has always been my priority, and it remains one for our festival as well.” He said that his column had “nothing to do with lack of respect for women” and pointed to the diversity and inclusion policy on the festival’s website that he said was crafted with the organization Women in Cinematography.
Women in Cinematography refuted that the policies they suggested have been implemented, pointing to a petition they posted on Change.org in September outlining their call for change. They alleged that the new policy was only published on the website following backlash to ?ydowicz’s comments.
“We reject this campaign being used by Mr ?ydowicz as a demonstration of the festival’s commitment to diversity or to shield Camerimage Festival from rightful criticism, as was attempted in his Nov. 9 response to the BSC’s open letter,” Women in Cinematography said in a statement. “These events only came about as a result of our activism and public and international pressure.”
Representatives for Camerimage did not immediately respond to Variety‘s request for comment.
The Hollywood Reporter was first to report the news.
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