Festival cancelled in Turkey over ban of Luca Guadagnino’s film ‘Queer’

Global streaming platform, production company and film distributor Mubi has scrapped a festival it had planned in Turkey after local authorities banned the screening of Luca Guadagnino’s new film, Queer.

The annual Mubi Fest Istanbul, which was due to be held between 7-10 November, had Queer as its opening film.

Based on William S. Burroughs novel and starring Daniel Craig as a gay expat living in Mexico, the film premiered in Venice and is LGBTQ+ themed.

Mubi was told to pull the screening at the last minute by authorities who deemed it to contain “provocative content.” Instead of complying, Mubi laudably cancelled the entire event altogether, saying that the ban targeted the “very essence and purpose” of the festival.

In a statement issued on its dedicated Turkish-language Instagram page for Mubi Turkey, the company said: “Hours before the opening of MUBI Fest Istanbul 2024, which we have been meticulously planning for months, and which was announced a few weeks ago and sold out days ago, we were informed that the screening of “Queer” — the festival’s opening film — has been banned by a decision of the Kadıköy District Governorate of Istanbul.” 

The statement continued: “The decision states that the film is prohibited on the grounds that it contains provocative content that could endanger public peace, with the ban being imposed for security reasons. 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.” 

“For this reason, 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.” 

Queer stars Daniel Craig as William Lee, an American expat in Mexico City, who pines for an elusive younger man, Eugene (Drew Starkey).  

In our review for the film, we wrote: “When the aging gay man asks the object of his affections to travel to South America for a quest to discover a psychedelic drug called ‘yage’ (ayahuasca), the film turns away from their sweaty push-and-pull relationship with some parallels to Death In Venice and morphs into a fascinating Orphean retelling about the search for oneself, the yearning for self-acceptance, and the impossibility of going back to past glory days. Featuring all the sensuality Guadagnino has become renowned for, as well as some mesmerising visuals and meaningfully anachronistic needle drops, Queer is daring and nothing short of fascinating to watch unfold.” Read our full review. 

Mubi acquired multiple territory rights for the film, including for Turkey as well as the UK, Ireland, Canada, Latin America, Germany, Austria, Benelux, Spain and India. 

Queer is set to be released in the UK and Ireland on 13 December, while most of mainland Europe will have to wait until next year for it to hit theatres.