The main jury of the EnergaCamerimage International Cinematography Film Festival, chaired by Cate Blanchett, has issued a statement pledging support for the festival and committment to “meaningful discussion”, following controversial comments by festival director Marek Żydowicz regarding female cinematographers in its line-up.
This statement comes after the exit of director Steve McQueen from the event, who was due to attend the opening night screening of his latest film Blitz, at this years’s festival, and where he was also set to receive the award for outstanding director. Blitz is still expected to open the festival on November 16, but not with the filmmaker present.
Along with Blanchett, this year’s main jury includes Sandy Powell, Anna Higgs, Anthony Dod Mantle DFF BSC ASC, Rodrigo Prieto AMC ASC, Łukasz Żal PSC and Jolanta Dylewska PSC.
In their joint statement, shared on social media by Higgs and Powell, the jury commented, “We welcome debate regarding gender representation. We look forward to being part of meaningful discussions with our peers at the festival about greater inclusion and recognition of excellence in all its forms in our industry. We wholeheartedly support the necessary shift towards genuine inclusivity and festivals can be a great forum for engaging in such conversations and championing positive change.”
Żydowicz expressed in an opinion piece for issue 24 of Cinematography World magazine that the push to feature films and TV series shot by female cinematographers and directors at festivals might result in “mediocre film productions” being selected over works with “outstanding artistic achievements.”
Groups, guilds and other associations around the world, including Women In Cinematography, the collective of filmmakers from across the globe, were quick to condemn Żydowicz’s statements as part of a widespread backlash and clamour for the festival to embrace change.
In its statement (https://www.cinematography.world/women-in-cinematography-statement/) Women In Cinematography, criticised the festival for a dismaying lack of representation, said “Camerimage’s historical exclusion of all but a few women is the very reason that Women in Cinematography was formed earlier this year,” and issued a list of demands where positive change must happen in order to restore the faith in the festival and its leadership’s integrity.
Żydowicz has since responded to accusations being levelled against him and the festival, arguing that Camerimage has “always strived to showcase only the best of contemporary cinema, regardless of who creates it.”
In response to the departure of McQueen, Żydowicz said in a statement shared with The Hollywood Reporter, “It was with great sadness that I accepted Steve McQueen’s decision to withdraw from the festival. I apologise once more, and I would like to take this opportunity to sit down in an open forum and talk about how to move forward together in a more open and inclusive manner.
“The festival is here to embrace each other as a community and to share in the appreciation of the images we cherish together as a community. Let’s have a meaningful discourse together as a community so that we can begin to rebuild in a more equitable manner. Let us have a conversation and determine the steps that will make the festival, our industry, more open, unified and representative of all voices.”
There are unconfirmed reports that discussions are underway for Blanchett and some of the other jurors to potentially take part in a public roundtable event during this year’s Camerimage festival, discussing important issues and changes underway in the film industry, including representation.
The 32nd edition of the EnergaCamerimage International Cinematography Film Festival is set to take place between 16th and 23rd in Torun, Poland.
