MUBI Cancels Istanbul Festival After Film Ban

The film festival Mubi Fest Istanbul 2024 was canceled by the streaming platform Mubi in response to a last-minute ban by Turkish authorities on its opening film, 'Queer'. The authorities cited the film's 'provocative content' as a threat to public peace and imposed the ban for security reasons. This decision led Mubi to cancel the entire festival, which had sold out and was scheduled to run from November 7 to 10. 'Queer', starring Daniel Craig, is a drama about a gay American expat in 1950s Mexico and was directed by Luca Guadagnino. Mubi condemned the ban as a restriction on art and freedom of expression, emphasizing that such actions undermine the festival's purpose of celebrating cultural diversity and community. The incident highlights ongoing tensions around LGBTQ+ representation in Turkey, where homosexuality, though decriminalized, faces societal and political opposition.