Film festival descends into furious misogyny row after founder laments ‘mediocre’ work by women – as top stars pull out in protest

A Polish film festival has been thrown into disarray after its founder lamented the ‘mediocre’ work of women and criticised calls for more women to enter the industry. 

The Camerimage film festival – which opened this weekend in the Polish city of the Torun – was supposed to be one of the industry’s most hotly anticipated events of the year. 

Hollywood heavyweights such as Cate Blanchett is leading the prize jury and director Steve McQueen was to be a guest of honour.

However, the festival has now been thrown into chaos after Polish filmmaker and founder of Camerimage Marek Zydowicz penned an article many have called ‘profoundly misogynistic.’

This has led stars to pull out and protests to take to the streets. 

The backlash has come about after Zydowicz took aim at calls for the 30-year-old event to include more female cinematographers. 

Writing in a column for Cinematography World magazine he said it was ‘crucial, as it rectifies the obvious injustice present in societal development.’

He claimed that Camerimage would not follow in the footsteps of other European film festivals that had been ‘criticised for their selections due to succumbing to or promoting such trends.’

Following his comments, stars have pulled out and protesters have took to the streets outside the event in the Polish city of Torun 

The main jury members including Cate Blanchett decided to attend the festival. In a statement they said they welcomed debate regarding gender representation and that they ‘wholeheartedly support the necessary shift towards genuine inclusivity’

In response to his comments, Steve Mcqueen cancelled his trip and withdrew his film Blitz – which was supposed to start the festival.

He was joined by the French female director Coralie Fargeat of the smashit body horror blockbuster The Substance starring Hollywood legend Demi Moore. 

In words reported by The Times, Fargeat said: ‘The Substance is about the impact of precisely these kinds of behaviours on our world. We shouldn’t tolerate them any more.’

The British Society of Cinematographers (BSC), whose members have won a combined 22 Oscars, published an open letter condemning Zydowicz’s column.

At first Zydowicz tried to stand his ground arguing that his comments had been ‘misintepreted.’ 

As opposition grew so did the pressure on the 65-year-old director who later issued an apology claiming it was never his intention to ‘undermine the achievements of any film-makers.’

He also added that ‘Whether this misunderstanding stemmed from an unfortunate choice of words or inaccurate translation from Polish is irrelevant.’ 

Demi Moore in this summer’s smashit body horror blockbuster The Substance. The film’s female director Coralie Fargeat was one of many stars who pulled out of the festival 

At first Zydowicz tried to stand his ground arguing that his comments had been ‘misintepreted’ but as opposition grew so did the pressure on the 65-year-old director who later issued an apology

Director Steve McQueen with the star of his new film Blitz Saoirse Ronan. In response to Zydowicz comments, Steve Mcqueen cancelled his trip and withdrew his film Blitz from the festival 

The main jury members including Blanchett decided to attend the festival. 

In a statement they said they welcomed debate regarding gender representation and that they ‘wholeheartedly support the necessary shift towards genuine inclusivity.’ 

The festival is set to see the world premiere of Alec Baldwin’s western Rust which faced delays after Baldwin accidentally shot dead cinematogrpaher Halyna Hutchins while on set in October 2021. 

Other films being shown include Dune: Part Two and the upcoming musical Wicked.