Cameraimage cinematography festival in the bin

[Andrew Reid]

https://www.screendaily.com/news/backlash-to-camerimage-directors-misogynistic-op-ed-on-women-in-cinematography/5199103.article

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/camerimage-film-festival-sexist-editorial-change-1236059689/

https://variety.com/2024/film/global/camerimage-controversy-festival-director-1236207572/

Apparently, this is a story of intolerance, of good vs evil.

The festival director is evil - he doesn't tolerate mediocre cinematography, and thinks that if you select for jobs based on gender, you encourage it and deprive somebody more talented (presumably a man) of an opportunity, and deprive filmmaking of meritocracy.

The film industry replied - we don't tolerate this kind of free speech. It's against our rules on sexism.

The festival director replied - sorry... let's have a discussion about it.

The film industry replied - we doesn't tolerate sexism.

And Steve McQueen replied... goodbye, I'm out of Cameraimage 2024.

But does the festival director really have an intolerance towards mediocrity?

After all a lot of what is shown is indeed mediocre.

And even when it comes to a proven genius such as Deakins, he's involved with the occasional mediocre movie.

And does the film industry really have an intolerance discrimination? After all the entire purpose of the industry is to be highly selective of to whom they give money. They are also very discriminatory in what they do and don't allow in terms of freedom of speech and editorial comments... and even more discriminatory when it comes to which projects they will fund and which ones they won't. And also, the film industry doesn't seem to like some groups (such as poor people) - and won't give them jobs, hence you nowadays only really hear middle class voices chattering on set.

So in the end, perhaps the Polish festival director is indeed more tolerant of mediocrity and does in fact select cinematographer's work based on factors other than just talent.

And perhaps the film industry is indeed a LOT less tolerant than they like to make themselves out to be.

Because by the very definition of the world, tolerance allows for all sorts of different opinions and cultural views, even when it comes to Polish festival organisers.

And that by definition, is diverse.

Whatever the culture war victor in all of this... wouldn't it be a genuine shame however to lose an event like Cameraimage in Poland?

It's the leading cinematography community and good for all involved, yes even women. So when Steve McQueen and others pull their support, perhaps they should think about whether this is truly a good thing for cinematographers or not, and if filmmakers can afford to lose yet another community event, in a rapidly more lonely corporate world, during a major industry crisis.

[ND64]

Right wingers has X, liberals have Threads and BlueSky. Maybe we're heading for a situation where there is a film industry for conservatives and another film industry for liberals. 

[PannySVHS]

Liberals and conservatives, yeah just two kinds of humanbeings.;) Liberal cinema, conservative, both sounds dull as a freaking polit talkshow with all these dull broadcasters and podcasters with their framing and then their framing about framing.

Talent? I haven't read from Reed Morano in a long time. Her direction of the first three episodes of Handmaids Tale were the best of the whole thing. She did these as a Dop turned director and it has shown in the visual power. Any episodes later had a tough time to keep up with that level of quality. Quiet a few did a good overall job, possibly sticking to the visual concept of the Moreno episodes in an attempt to use it as a blueprint. A whole bunch of the last two seasons was mediocore and in that with even nervewreckingly annoying parts and unappealing talking heads galore.

So where is Reed Morano? She did three exceptionally outstanding episodes of cinema for that show. This industry doesn't really do as much for diversity as it does against it. In Germany filmsets have been, until recently, spaces of labor exploitation and psychological abuse. Middle and upper class kids taking the trophies. But they are scared too not to get their project financed.

I had the great pleasure of talking to Oliver Stapleton for a few minutes at Camerimage 2019, the edition before Corona. He told me that filmschools in Brittania are much rather accessible for wealthy kids. He found that to be not ideal. He was frank to point out his disappointment with a pretty desasterous shortfilm, infront of an audience, which also agreed on his assertions. Oliver Stapleton and any of the viewers had respect for the cinematography and technical prowess and they were showing acknowledgement. But story, acting, direction of acting, dialogue, and tone aka mood were just disappointing.

I have seen another highly mediocore mid length film at that very same Camerimage, which also had a screening at a pretty prestigous German filmfest, just like the film I mentioned above. Both shorts were from technical showcases. Then I've seen two dull shorts from another famous German filmschool, which both made it to that same German prestigeous festival. The DoPs did good pro work in all these films, but story, acting, dramaturgy, mood were all dubious. Camerawork and tech aspects were pro level. So camerimage has shown some lacklaster student films. Btw Berlinale has too. I am not competent to say by any means if it is the festivals fault as a lot of good stuff is running there too. They can only choose from the films which are sent to them.