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Arthouse streamer and distributor MUBI has canceled its international film festival in Istanbul, Turkey over concerns about local censorship just as the annual event was set to kick off.
The MUBI Fest was to open on Thursday evening with a screening of Queer, Luca Guadagnino’s LGBTQ+ themed drama with Daniel Craig in the lead role. But MUBI decided against holding the event, which was to run to Nov. 10.
“Just hours before the start of MUBI Fest Istanbul 2024, we were informed via a notification from the Kadıkoy District Governor’s Office that the screening of Queer, the festival’s opening film, was banned,” MUBI said on its Instagram page.
The queer drama based on William Burroughs’ 1950s-set autobiographical novel has Craig playing a American expat and heroin addict in Mexico City who has an encounter with an expat former soldier who makes him believe it might be finally possible to establish an intimate connection with somebody.
“We believe this ban is an intervention that restricts art and freedom of expression. Festivals are breathtaking spaces where art and cultural diversity are celebrated, bringing people together. This ban takes not just one movie away from the meaning and purpose of the entire festival,” MUBI stated.
The arthouse distributor added it wanted “to show the right stance that our audience expects from us and we regret to inform you that we have taken the decision to cancel the entire MUBI Fest Istanbul. We would like to thank all the artists, audience and supporters who were planning to participate in the festival and who we believe are at least as saddened by this situation as we are, for their understanding and solidarity. In the name of protecting freedom of expression and artistic expression, we will continue to stand on this issue.”
The Venice Film Festival gave Queer a 9-minute standing ovation after the world premiere screening attended by Craig and co-star Drew Starkey and director Guadagnino. Jason Schwartzman and Lesley Manville also star in the A24 period romantic drama, which travels from postwar Mexico City to the Amazon.
Representatives for the Istanbul Governor’s Office were not available for comment on the decision to ban the Queer drama.