Poland’s Camerimage Festival Kicks Off Controversy-Charged 32nd Edition

Poland’s EnergaCamerimage film festival is kicking off under a cloud of controversy this year — but you wouldn’t know it from the opening ceremony that took place Saturday night in the host city of Toruń.

Festival founder Marek Żydowicz opened the 32nd edition of the event without any direct mention of his controversial statements that caused an industry backlash last week, resulting in two of the festival’s most high-profile guests — Oscar winner Steve McQueen and The Substance director Coralie Fargeat — pulling out in protest. Żydowicz emphasized, however, that he “founded Camerimage over 30 years ago to help restore dignity to the artists of the film industry who are overlooked, or who are treated simply as technicians whenever we celebrate film.” 

Camerimage famously highlights the work of cinematographers and other craft artists integral to the filmmaking process. For years, the event has been akin to a cult favorite on the festival circuit, attracting hundreds of working cinematographers and film buffs for a weeklong celebration of the art of filmmaking in the historic medieval city. But Żydowicz ignited a firestorm a week ago with an editorial published in Cinematography World magazine, in which he seemed to suggest that pushing for greater representation by women cinematographers at Camerimage could result in a film selection of diminished artistic quality. 

The industry reaction was swift, with several leading cinematography guilds and filmmakers publicly condemning the remarks as misogynistic. Żydowicz issued a response to a critical letter from the British Society of Cinematographers, saying the reaction to his words “were grounded in misunderstanding.” He later put out an additional apology following McQueen’s withdrawal.

The charged atmosphere at Camerimage this year has also been heightened by the festival’s decision to screen the world premiere of Rust, the Alec Baldwin-starring indie Western that resulted in the accidental on-set shooting death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins.

When the screening was announced a month ago, some DPs took to social media to argue that the decision was a promotional move undertaken in poor taste, given that the creation of the work caused the death of one of their compatriots. The festival has emphasized, however, that the premiere was only intended to honor the work and wishes of Hutchins, a past attendee of Camerimage who had privately told her collaborators that she hoped her work would one day screen there. (Organizers also told THR that Baldwin was deliberately not invited, because of the distraction his presence at the event would likely generate.) 

Many high-profile industry figures and artists are nonetheless standing by Camerimage despite this year’s controversies. Oscar winner Cate Blanchett, previously announced as the president of the festival’s main competition jury, put out a joint statement with her fellow jurors earlier this week making clear that she intended to follow through with her role, writing, “We welcome debate regarding gender representation,” and “we wholeheartedly support the necessary shift towards genuine inclusivity.”

Blanchett was present for the opening ceremony Saturday night and received a rousing round of applause when she was briefly introduced to the crowd. Her most recent director collaborator, five-time Oscar winner Alfonso Cuarón, has also been revealed as a late addition to the festival. The filmmaker will discuss his and Blanchett’s Apple TV+ series Disclaimer at a public talk event next week.

The ceremony opened with a video message from world-renowned performance artist Marina Abramović, who accepted a Camerimage honor for artistic achievement. The artist said she wasn’t able to attend in person due to a health condition but stated that she was “very happy that so many women — great, creative women — are taking part in this important festival this year.” 

The ceremony’s second-loudest moment of applause came when Shogun star Hiroyuki Sanada bounded to the stage to accept Camerimage’s inaugural award for best performance in a TV series. In keeping with the festival’s spirit, the Japanese screen veteran accepted the trophy on behalf of his Emmy-winning show’s crew. 

Legendary Polish auteur Krzysztof Zanussi, a Venice Golden Lion winner and Cannes jury prize honoree, was awarded the festival’s Pomorze Region Prize, presented by a provincial government leader. The 85-year-old artist said from the stage that he “has begun to feel like a Christmas tree who is already shedding his needles, but they are still putting some decorations on it.” 

“They say that as a man ages,” Zanussi added, with a wry smile, “he should become wiser and more indifferent to the signs of appreciation. But for me, it’s been just the opposite — I am no wiser, and it has become more and more valuable to feel appreciated.” 

The ceremony was concluded with the opening screening of Blitz — conspicuously sans McQueen. Blanchett’s jury will unveil the winners of the Camerimage’s Golden Frog awards at a closing ceremony on Nov. 23.