Following a ban from the authorities of the Kadıköy district, the British platform decided to simply cancel its Istanbul demonstration “in order to protect freedom of expression”.
Daniel Craig in Luca Guadagnino's Queer, adapted from the novel by William S. Burroughs. A24
By Marie Sauvion
Published on November 8, 2024 at 3:30 p.m.
QEven though he wears a gun on his belt, the Daniel Craig of Queer is nothing like a James Bond, and that's where the bone lies. While Luca Guadagnino's film, inspired by the novel by William S. Burroughs and discovered at the 2024 Venice Film Festival, was to open Mubi Fest Istanbul this Thursday, November 7, its screening was at the last minute the subject of a ban emanating from the authorities of the district of Kadıköy, on the Asian side of the city. Reason given: its content would be « provocateur » and potentially dangerous for “social peace”. Clearly, the feature film features homosexuals, starting with its protagonist, played by the ex-007, who is also experiencing a demonstrative drug addiction.
Impeccably intransigent, the British platform's response to this censorship came via a press release on Instagram: “We believe this ban restricts art and freedom of expression. Festivals are breathing spaces that celebrate art and cultural diversity and bring people together. This ban […] deprives the entire festival of its meaning and purpose. Therefore […] we regret to inform you that we have decided to cancel the entire Mubi Fest Istanbul. We will continue to maintain our position on this issue to protect freedom of speech and artistic expressions. »
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From “Amore” to “Challengers”, how do you recognize a Luca Guadagnino film?
Founded in 2007 by a Turkish entrepreneur, Efe Çakarel, Mubi has made a specialty of auteur cinema, gradually expanding its scope to include production and distribution. Since 2023, its annual festival has taken on an international scale, with meetings in South America, the United States and Canada, Italy and, therefore, Turkey, where this second edition, scheduled from November 7 to 10 , was to allow Istanbul film buffs to discover Perfect Days, the Wim Wenders, Grand Tour, by Miguel Gomes, The Substance, by Coralie Fargeat, or even Emilia Perez, by Jacques Audiard.
