Steve McQueen Withdraws from Poland’s Camerimage Festival Over Founder’s Controversial Op-Ed on Female Cinematographers
Oscar-winning filmmaker Steve McQueen has announced his withdrawal from the 32nd Camerimage Film Festival in Poland, citing offensive comments about female cinematographers made by the festival’s founder and CEO, Marek Żydowicz. McQueen had been scheduled to attend the festival’s opening night for the screening of his new film, Blitz, and to receive the outstanding director award.
McQueen’s decision follows Żydowicz’s recent op-ed, published in Cinematography World, which sparked widespread criticism. In the piece, Żydowicz questioned whether increasing representation of female cinematographers might risk diminishing the artistic quality of films. His remarks were in response to a petition from Women in Cinematography, a global union advocating for greater inclusion of women in the industry.
“Having read Marek Zydowicz’s op-ed concerning female cinematographers, I have decided not to attend the opening night presentation of my film Blitz this weekend,” McQueen stated in an exclusive interview with The Hollywood Reporter. “Although he has issued an apology, I cannot get past what I consider deeply offensive words. I have enormous respect for cinematographers of all genders, including women, and believe we have to do and demand better to make room for everyone at the table.”
Żydowicz’s editorial criticized the push for gender equity in cinematography, suggesting it could compromise the festival’s artistic standards. The backlash was swift, with the British Society of Cinematographers (BSC) publishing a scathing open letter condemning his statements as “profoundly misogynistic” and indicative of “deep-rooted prejudice.” Other organizations, including the American Society of Cinematographers (ASC) and the Canadian Society of Cinematographers (CSC), also voiced their opposition, along with industry networks representing female cinematographers worldwide.
The festival, a renowned event celebrating the art of cinematography, still plans to open with McQueen’s Blitz, though the director will no longer be in attendance. The film, starring Saoirse Ronan and Elliott Heffernan, explores the resilience of women during World War II through the story of a young boy separated from his family in wartime London.
Despite McQueen’s absence, the festival continues to host prominent figures in the field, including competition jury president Cate Blanchett and leading cinematographers such as Greig Fraser (Dune 2), Alice Brooks (Wicked), and Ed Lachman (Maria).
Żydowicz’s remarks come at a time when other major festivals, including Cannes and Berlin, have committed to improving gender representation in their programming. The controversy has cast a shadow over Camerimage’s 2024 edition, prompting wider discussions about equity and inclusion within the film industry.