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British filmmaker Steve McQueen will no longer attend a screening of his latest feature Blitz at Poland’s Camerimage Film Festival following the fallout of a controversial op-ed written by the festival’s founder and head Marek Żydowicz.
News of McQueen’s decision was first reported this afternoon by THR. We received the same statement from McQueen’s reps shortly after. The Blitz filmmaker said: “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 added: “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.”
In the article titled ‘Time for Solidarity’, published last week in the craft magazine Cinematography World, Żydowicz outlined the path he believes the cinematography-focused festival can take as the wider film industry continues to change at speed. The greatest change, Żydowicz hypothesized, was the growing prominence of women cinematographers and directors. The thesis of Żydowicz’s article, however, was quickly denounced by industry professionals and unions who said it was sexist.
The parts that have drawn widespread criticism online are a portion where Żydowicz writes: “‘Can we sacrifice works and artists with outstanding artistic achievements solely to make room for mediocre productions?”
Another highlighted by filmmakers such as Reed Morano and Fabian Wagner read: “While EnergaCamerimage strives to acknowledge the contributions of women in cinematography, it also aims to maintain artistic integrity. Change? Yes, but let’s remain decent and honest. It’s about rapid evolution, not a fanatical revolution that destroys the cathedrals of art and throws out its sculptures and paintings.”
Żydowicz’s article was promptly denounced by multiple industry organizations such as the British Society of Cinematographers (BSE), which said Żydowicz’s words represented an “outdated notion of male superiority in the field and equate fairer gender representation with a drop in artistic values.”
The BSC’s statement was quickly supported by the American Society of Cinematographers, which reshared the letter on its website. Similar statements have since been shared by almost a dozen industry unions, including the Canadian Society of Cinematographers, the Society of Camera Operators, and the Women Cinematographers Network Of Germany, Austria & Switzerland.
Camerimage had been set to kick off this weekend in Torun, Poland with a screening of Blitz. McQueen had also been set to receive an honorary award at the festival. We have reached out to the festival for comment.
Camerimage is set to close with a screening of Universal’s Wicked remix starring Ariana Grande. Cate Blanchett will head the competition jury.
