Thandiwe Newton Says BFI London Film Festival Rejected Zimbabwe Doc ‘President’ Due to Political Pressure (EXCLUSIVE)

variety.com:

Marc Malkin Senior Film Awards, Events & Lifestyle EditorThandiwe Newton wants to know why the BFI London Film Festival did not accept “President,” the award-winning documentary she produced about the 2018 Zimbabwe presidential election.The Camilla Nielsson-directed film chronicles young presidential hopeful Nelson Chamisa’s unsuccessful bid to unseat Pres.

Emmerson Mnangagwa, the country’s former vice president who staged a military coup that ousted decades-long dictator Robert Mugabe. “President” takes a look at allegations that Mnangagwa, who publicly promised a fair and transparent election, and his party held onto power through vote tampering and violence against his opposition.“Every time it gets into another festival and wins another festival and then gets shortlisted for the Oscars, I’m just thinking London Film Festival, ‘Where were you?’” Newton says. “And the reason they weren’t there was because it was the week before Mnangagwa went to Scotland with 100 delegates from Zimbabwe, invited by the United Kingdom.

That wouldn’t have been a great way to have him arrive the week before, right? That’s why I think it wasn’t screened.” In a statement to Variety, the festival said it does not comment on any film’s submitted to the festival, but also said, “Our selection decisions, which are made 3 months in advance of the festival, are based on the merits of the film and whether it fits into the overall texture of the program and not guided by external factors.

We hugely admire Thandiwe Newton’s work, her activism and commitment to giving back to the industry.”“President” has been screened at about 30 festivals since its premiere last year at Sundance.