‘The Substance’ Director Coralie Fargeat Pulls Film From Camerimage Following Festival Head’s Comments About Women

variety.com:

Katcy Stephan Coralie Fargeat has pulled her film “The Substance” from Camerimage Film Festival following comments the festival director made about female cinematographers. “After discovering the highly misogynistic and offensive words of the director of the Camerimage Film Festival, I have decided to pull ‘The Substance’ from the festival (and [director of photography] Benjamin Kračun has decided not to attend),” Fargeat wrote in a statement posted to her X account. “‘The Substance’ is about the impact of exactly these types of behaviors on our world.

We shouldn’t tolerate them anymore. We send our support to all involved in the festival and hope this decision will help create a much needed change.” pic.twitter.com/HLkBV6VaWp In a column published in Cinematography World magazine, festival director Marek Żydowicz appeared to suggest that having greater representation of women DPs and directors in the event’s selection could lead to the inclusion of “mediocre film productions.” “Should we reject what is esteemed and valuable just to ‘make space’ for the necessity of social change?” he wrote. “Whilst festivals like Cannes, Berlin or Venice are criticized for their selections due to succumbing to or promoting [political or ideological trends], Camerimage remains committed to artistic values as the foremost criterion for qualifying and promoting film art.” Steve McQueen similarly withrdrew from the festival in Toruń, Poland., which includes an opening night screening of his new film “Blitz” He had been set to receive the outstanding director award at the event in Toruń, Poland.