The arthouse distributor and streamer said the ban by local authorities targeted the “very essence and purpose” of the upcoming film festival, which Luca Guadagnino’s film was set to open…
MUBI has scrapped an entire film festival that was planned in Turkey after local authorities banned a screening of Luca Guadagnino’s Queer, which stars Daniel Craig as a gay expat living in Mexico. The film is based on the short novel Queer by William S. Burroughs, which was written between 1951 and 1953, and finally published in 1985.
The arthouse distributor and streamer was due to hold the annual MUBI Fest Istanbul between November 7 – 10 with Queer set as the opener. But when it was told to pull the screening of Queer at the last minute by authorities who deemed it to contain “provocative content,” the company opted to cancel the festival altogether, saying that the ban targeted the “very essence and purpose” of the event.
“Queer is a strange fever dream of exploration into what it was like to be a gay man living in another country after World War II. Daniel Craig’s version of Lee is initially comedic until he simply becomes sad to watch, always longing for connection and his next fix. Starkey is marvelous in a quasi-ingenue role, propelling their intimate scenes to almost pornographic territory,” IN‘s Matthew Creith wrote after the film’s screening at the Toronto International Film Festival in September (You can read IN‘s full review of the film right here).
See Mubi’s statement on cancelling the film festival below:
“Hours before the opening of MUBI Fest Istanbul 2024, which we have been meticulously planning for months, and which was announced a few weeks ago and sold out days ago, we were informed that the screening of ‘Queer’ — the festival’s opening film — has been banned by a decision of the Kadıköy District Governorate of Istanbul.
The decision states that the film is prohibited on the grounds that it contains provocative content that could endanger public peace, with the ban being imposed for security reasons. We believe this ban is a direct restriction on art and freedom of expression. Festivals are spaces that celebrate art, cultural diversity, and community, bringing people together. This ban not only targets a single film but also undermines the very essence and purpose of the festival.
For this reason, MUBI has decided to take the position that our audience expects from us. It is with deep regret that we inform you of our decision to cancel the entire MUBI Fest Istanbul. We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to all the artists, audiences, and supporters who were eager to be part of the festival. We truly appreciate your understanding and solidarity. We know you are as saddened by this situation as we are.
We will continue to advocate for the protection of freedom of expression and artistic integrity. Information regarding ticket refunds will be provided at a later date.”
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– Luca Guadagnino’s Psychedelic Fuelled Film Queer Acquired By Mubi
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