Mubi Film Festival Istanbul has been cancelled following government censorship of a buzz gay drama film. Mubi is an annual film festival that takes place every year, and this year it has been held in Turkey. This year it was supposed to happen in Turkey’s capital, but before the event could begin, the organization received a letter from the District Governorship of Istanbul. Kadikőy municipality that the screening of the fest’s opening film, Queer, was banned.
A translated post from the film distributor’s social media account said that the government argued that Queer contained proactive content that would endanger public peace and that the ban decision would be implemented for security reasons.
Homosexuality is legal in Turkey in comparison to many other Islamic countries, but the government does not permit or recognize gay marriage, and gay men are not permitted to serve in the country’s military or donate blood. But there are a few laws and policies in place to prevent queer citizens from discrimination throughout the country.
Mubi stated that the ban is an intervention that restricts art and freedom of expression, and writing, Festivals are breathing spaces that celebrate art and cultural diversity and bring people together. This ban distances not only a film but the entire festival from its meaning and purpose.
They also wrote that we want to take the correct stance that our audience expects from us and regretfully announce that we have decided to cancel the entire MUBI FEST Istanbul, organization. We would like to thank all artists, viewers, and supporters who were planning to attend the festival and who we believe are as saddened by this situation as we are for their understanding and solidarity. We will continue to maintain our stance on this issue to protect freedom of expression and artistic expression.
Queer stars Daniel Craig as an American adrift in Mexico City in the 1940s as he becomes entangled with a discharged Navy officer portrayed by Outer Banks Drew Starkey. Based on an unfinished 1985 novella by William S. Burroughs, the film is directed by Luca Guadagino, Call Me By Your Name, and written by his Challengers collaborator Justin Kurizkes.
Censorship has grown stricter in the last few years, as a 2022 law heavily restricted freedom of speech online and criminalized sharing any disinformation not approved by the government. The four-day film festival was set to screen films like Hit Man, Late Night with the Devil, Perfect Days, Origin, and Do Not Expect Much from the End of the World.
