Cate Blanchett to Remain as Jury Head of Camerimage After Controversy: ‘We Look Forward to Being Part of Meaningful Discussions’

variety.com:

Elsa Keslassy International Correspondent Cate Blanchett and her fellow jury members from Poland’s Camerimage festival have released a statement affirming their support for the festival and commitment to “meaningful discussions” after controversial comments made by the festival’s director to justify the dearth of female cinematographers in the lineup. “We welcome debate regarding gender representation,” the jury members wrote in a statement that was posted by jury members Anna Higgs and Sandy Powell.

The jury is comprised of Blanchett, Anthony Dod Mantle, Higgs, Powell, Rodrigo Prieto, Lukasz Zal and Jolanta Dylewska. “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,” the statement continued. “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,” the statement concludes.

Blanchett is jury president of the main competition at the 32nd edition of the EnergaCamerimage International Cinematography Film Festival which takes place Nov.

16-23 in Toruń, Poland. On Tuesday, McQueen dropped out of attending the opening night screening of his new film “Blitz.” He had been set to receive the outstanding director award at the event.