Arthouse streamer and distributor MUBI has canceled an international film festival in Istanbul, Turkey, just as the annual event was opening, over concerns about local censorship.
The MUBI Festival kicks off Thursday evening with screenings of Queeran LGBTQ+ themed drama directed by Luca Guadagnino and starring Daniel Craig. However, MUBI decided not to hold the event, which was originally scheduled to run until November 10.
“Just a few hours before the start of MUBI Festival Istanbul 2024, we received a notification from the Kadikoy Region Governor’s Office about the screening. queer, The opening film of the festival has been banned,” MUBI said on its Instagram page.
This queer drama, based on William Burroughs’s 1950s autobiographical novel, stars Craig as an American expat and heroin addict in Mexico City who falls in love with an ex-pat The soldier’s encounter convinced him that it was finally possible to have an intimate connection with someone.
“We view this ban as an intervention that limits artistic and free expression. Festivals are amazing spaces that celebrate artistic and cultural diversity and bring people together. This ban not only removes one film from the entire The meaning and purpose of the film festival,” said MUBI.
The arts publisher added that it wanted to “show the correct stance on our audience’s expectations and we regret to inform you that we have decided to cancel the entire MUBI Festival Istanbul. We would like to thank all artists, audiences who planned to attend the festival” and supporters, we believe they are at least as saddened by this situation as we are and appreciate their understanding and solidarity as we continue to take a stand on this issue in the name of protecting freedom of speech and artistic expression.
Venice Film Festival gave Queer Following the world premiere, Craig, co-star Drew Starkey and director Guadagnino were present for a nine-minute standing ovation. Jason Schwartzman and Leslie Manville also star in this A24 period romance drama, which travels from postwar Mexico City to the Amazon.
Representatives from the Istanbul governor’s office were unable to comment on the decision to ban the ban. Queer drama.
