Marek Żydowicz Addresses Camerimage Opening, Denies Sexism Allegations
The 32nd edition of EnergaCamerimage, the international cinematography festival held in Toruń, Poland, commenced on November 16 with a packed opening ceremony despite significant pre-event controversy. Festival founder and director Marek Żydowicz faced backlash following an op-ed published in Cinematography World, which several industry bodies labeled “misogynistic” and “aggressive.”
The controversy led to high-profile withdrawals, including director Steve McQueen and cinematographer Yorick Le Saux, who pulled their film Blitz and canceled their scheduled Q&A. Director Coralie Fargeat and cinematographer Benjamin Kračun also withdrew their film, The Substance. Nonetheless, Blitz was screened to a full auditorium, with Żydowicz sidestepping the controversy in his opening remarks, emphasizing the role of cinematographers in crafting visual narratives.
Żydowicz stated, “It is they who create what we see,” while explaining his vision for the festival as a platform to honor the artistic contributions of cinematographers. Speaking at the opening-night party, he added, “I am not sexist, I am not a misogynist... Look at the work we are doing and are continuing to do.”
Cate Blanchett, serving as the president of the main competition jury, received the evening’s most enthusiastic applause. Blanchett, alongside fellow jurors such as cinematographers Rodrigo Prieto and Jolanta Dylewska, issued a statement affirming their commitment to fostering discussions on gender representation.
Renowned performance artist Marina Abramović was honored for her artistic achievements through a video message, while Hiroyuki Sanada accepted Camerimage’s inaugural award for best performance in a TV series for his work in Shogun.
The festival’s controversy sparked discussions on the broader gender disparities in the film industry. UK producer Natasha Markou expressed optimism about future editions addressing gender equality more proactively. A female Ukrainian cinematographer attending the festival highlighted challenges in securing opportunities, citing entrenched biases in parts of Eastern Europe.
Sunday evening featured the grand opening of Manifesto by German artist Julian Rosefeldt at Toruń’s Centre of Contemporary Art. The 13-screen installation, starring Cate Blanchett, explores significant 20th-century artistic and philosophical manifestos with humor and power.