A film festival in Istanbul has been scrapped in protest at a reported ban on their opening film, Queer, starring Daniel Craig.
Streaming service Mubi say they decided to pull Mubi Fest Istanbul 2024 after local authorities said the movie could not be shown “for security reasons”.
Mubi say local authorities claimed the “provocative content” in Queer would “endanger public peace”.
In the historical drama, Bond star Craig plays a drug-addicted American living in 1950s Mexico.
Directed by Luca Guadagnino, it’s based on the 1985 semi-autobiographical novel by Beat Generation author William Burroughs and explores the colourful nightlife of Mexico City.
Mubi said Turkish authorities told them just hours before the four-day festival was due to begin that Queer had been banned by a decision of the Kadıkoy District Governorate of Istanbul.
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In a statement provided to Sky News, Mubi said the decision said the film was prohibited on the grounds “that it contains provocative content that could endanger public peace, with the ban being imposed for security reasons”.
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Mubi said: “We believe this ban is a direct restriction on art and freedom of expression.
“Festivals are spaces that celebrate art, cultural diversity, and community, bringing people together. This ban not only targets a single film but also undermines the very essence and purpose of the festival.
“Mubi has decided to take the position that our audience expects from us. It is with deep regret that we inform you of our decision to cancel the entire Mubi Fest Istanbul.
“We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to all the artists, audiences, and supporters who were eager to be part of the festival. We truly appreciate your understanding and solidarity. We know you are as saddened by this situation as we are.
“We will continue to advocate for the protection of freedom of expression and artistic integrity”.
Due to kick off on Thursday 7 November, the four-day festival had been sold out.
Craig’s best performance to date
Although homosexuality is legal in Turkey, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has previously labelled members of the LGBTQ+ community as “deviants” and has toughened the country’s stance on LGBT freedoms, including banning annual Pride marches for the last decade.
In 2020, a planned Netflix series in Turkey, titled If Only, was pulled after permissions to film were denied due to the inclusion of a gay character.
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Sky News has contacted Istanbul’s governor’s office and Turkey’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism for comment.
Queer is due to be released in the UK on Friday 13 December, with some reviewers calling it Craig’s best performance to date. It also stars Jason Schwartzman, Lesley Manville and newcomer Drew Starkey.
Arthouse streaming service Mubi, which is London-based and was originally founded by Turkish entrepreneur Efe Cakarel in 2007, streams in more than 195 countries.
