Good on Cate Blanchett for sticking around as Jury President of the 32nd Cameraimage edition. Speaking for the jury, she just released a statement after festival director Marek Żydowicz’s controversial comments went viral yesterday.
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.
This statement comes less than 24 hours after Steve McQueen decided to bow out of festival in protest of Żydowicz’s “deeply offensive” comments. McQueen’s “Blitz” is supposed to open the festival on November 16, and is still scheduled to be screened, just not with the filmmaker present.
Żydowicz had written an op-ed in Cinematography World, tackling the growing number of women cinematographers and directors, “Can we sacrifice works and artists with outstanding artistic achievements solely to make room for mediocre productions?” Żydowicz wrote.
The British Society of Cinematographers quickly condemned Żydowicz’s op-ed as “misogynistic” and “aggressive” in tone. This was then supported by the American Society of Cinematographers. It all spiraled from there into total outrage, from many circles of the film community.
Żydowicz replied to BSC, saying, “the accusations made against me in the statement published on BSC website are entirely misplaced and quite offensive,” and, “I am very sorry that BSC misinterpreted my comments”.
Along with President Blanchett, this year’s Cameraimage jury is comprised of Anthony Dod Mantle, Rodrigo Prieto, Lukasz Zal, Anna Higgs, Sandy Powell and Jolanta Dylewska. The event is the preeminent and most prestigious film festival for cinematographers in the world,
The 32nd edition of the EnergaCamerimage International Cinematography Film Festival is set to take place November 16 through 23 in Poland.