Hours before the 2024 MUBI Fest in Istanbul was set to begin, the festival received notification from the Istanbul Kadıköy District Governorship that Luca Guadagnino’s Queer, scheduled as the opening night film, had been banned in Turkey.
The official government statement cited the film’s “provocative content that could disrupt public order” and said the ban was imposed for “security reasons.” It is clear that the government’s primary concern was the film’s explicit gay sex scenes.
It is disheartening to realise that in some parts of the world, art and freedom of expression are still under heavy censorship. Queer is a beautifully crafted film that deserves to be seen by audiences everywhere. Unfortunately, with this decision, there is concern that the film may face similar bans in other countries, particularly in the Middle East.
In response, MUBI decided to cancel the entire festival in protest, publicly condemning the ban and the actions of the Turkish government. “Film festivals are essential spaces that celebrate artistic expression and cultural diversity, bringing people together. This ban undermines not just a single film, but the core purpose of the entire festival,” MUBI stated in a press release.
While homosexuality was decriminalised in Turkey as far back as 1858, LGBTQ+ issues remain highly controversial in the country. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has repeatedly referred to LGBTQ+ individuals as “perverts” and framed them as a threat to traditional family values, a stance that continues to foster a climate of hostility and intolerance toward the LGBTQ+ community in Turkey, despite the country’s legal progress in some areas.
