Steve McQueen withdraws from Camerimage Festival after controversial remarks on female cinematographers

Oscar-winning director Steve McQueen has chosen not to attend Poland’s Camerimage Film Festival in response to a controversial editorial by the event’s founder and CEO, Marek Żydowicz, criticizing female cinematographers, reported exclusively by the Hollywood Reporter. McQueen’s decision, announced shortly before the festival’s 32nd edition opened, was spurred by an editorial Żydowicz wrote for Cinematography World that questioned the impact of increasing female representation in cinematography on artistic quality.

McQueen was set to attend the festival’s opening on Saturday, where his latest film Blitz would be screened and he would receive the outstanding director award. In an exclusive statement to The Hollywood Reporter, McQueen said, “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…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, in a response to McQueen’s departure, expressed regret over the situation, stating, “It was with great sadness that I accepted Steve McQueen’s decision to withdraw from the festival. I apologize once more, and I would like to take this opportunity to sit down in an open forum and talk about how to move forward together in a more open and inclusive manner.”

The backlash began with Żydowicz’s response to a recent petition by Women in Cinematography, an international union advocating for female directors of photography, which urged Camerimage to expand its support for women cinematographers. In the editorial, Żydowicz questioned the value of prioritizing gender diversity over artistic merit, writing, “One of the most significant changes is the growing recognition of female cinematographers and directors. This evolution is crucial as it rectifies the obvious injustice present in societal development. However, it also raises a question that can the pursuit of change exclude what is good? Can we sacrifice works and artists with outstanding artistic achievements solely to make room for mediocre film production?”

Żydowicz’s comments immediately sparked criticism within the global cinematography community. The British Society of Cinematographers (BSC) issued a firm condemnation on its website, wrote, “The BSC wishes to express its disapproval of your recent article in Cinematography World. We are disheartened and angered by your profoundly misogynistic comments and aggressive tone, which we view as symptomatic of a deep-rooted prejudice.” The American Society of Cinematographers (ASC) and other international cinematography organizations, including the Canadian Society of Cinematographers and the Society of Camera Operators, quickly aligned themselves with the BSC’s statement.

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