Movie-makers and critics pull out of Istanbul Film Festival amid censorship row
- 9 years ago
Nearly two dozen movie-makers and a group of international critics have pulled out of the Istanbul Film Festival, amid a censorship row.
The government has blocked the screening of a film about Kurdish militants, citing paperwork issues.
The festival competition has been called off.
“We are asking the freedom of showing the films that we are selecting in our programme, without requiring any documents within the context of festivals and cultural activities, which is happening like everywhere else in the world,” said Azize Tan, festival director.
“If a film doesn’t get that document, what happens is that the film is censored in that sense.”
The barred film – “North” – documents the lives of militants from the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party, or PKK.
The government says ‘PKK propaganda’ has no place in a democratic society.
“Cinemas have to be open to the public. I mean, you buy your ticket go and watch the film and after you tell what you think about it. You shouldn’t b
The government has blocked the screening of a film about Kurdish militants, citing paperwork issues.
The festival competition has been called off.
“We are asking the freedom of showing the films that we are selecting in our programme, without requiring any documents within the context of festivals and cultural activities, which is happening like everywhere else in the world,” said Azize Tan, festival director.
“If a film doesn’t get that document, what happens is that the film is censored in that sense.”
The barred film – “North” – documents the lives of militants from the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party, or PKK.
The government says ‘PKK propaganda’ has no place in a democratic society.
“Cinemas have to be open to the public. I mean, you buy your ticket go and watch the film and after you tell what you think about it. You shouldn’t b