The French director was planning to present her new feature at the Polish film festival Camerimage. After the publication of an “offensive” article by its director on the place of women in the film industry, she withdrew it from the program.
” We should no longer tolerate them “they said indignantly Coralie Fargeat and its head of photography Benjamin Kracun in a statement published on November 15 on X. While The Substance the French director’s horror film with Demi Moore was due to be screened from November 16 to 23 at the Polish Camerimage festival, the film’s team decided to abruptly withdraw it from the event.
The reason? Its director and organizer, Marek Zydowicz, published an article in the magazine Cinematography World in which he implies that the inclusion of women in cinema could lead to a decline in the artistic quality of films. ” Should we reject valuable works just to “make room” in the name of social change? ? “he wondered. To the point of declaring that this evolution could lead to ” mediocre film productions “.
Steve McQueen retires too
All the more reason for Coralie Fargeat to jump, since her film The Substance ” is precisely about the effect that this kind of behaviour has on our world. “she wrote in the press release. The French director was quick to denounce the remarks ” highly misogynistic and offensive “by the director of the festival held in the Polish town of Torun and to withdraw his film from the program.
The director is not the only one to consider these remarks shocking. British filmmaker Steve McQueen has also decided to cancel his appearance. The director of Twelve Years a Slave (2013) was to present his new film Blitz to open the festival and receive an award. He told American magazine Variety that he was ” in our duty to make and demand more room for everyone to sit at the table “. Before adding, with regard to Marek Zydowicz: ” I cannot ignore what I consider to be deeply offensive remarks. “.
Read also
The Substance: trailer for horror film starring Demi Moore unveiled
Marek Zydowicz apologizes
Faced with the controversy, the director of the Camerimage festival apologized, saying he was open to discussion in order to ” move forward together in a more open and inclusive way “. The Australian actress Cate Blanchett – star of Robin Hood (2010), The Lord of the Rings (2001-2003) and The Hobbit (2012-2014) – will, however, remain at the head of the jury for this 2024 edition. ” We look forward to engaging in meaningful discussions with our festival peers about greater inclusion and recognition of excellence in all its forms in our industry “said the jury in a statement relayed by Variety .