Documentary reinstated in Golden Orange Film festival after censorship debate
Following the recent controversy surrounding censorship at the Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival, director Nejla Demirci's documentary "Kanun Hükmü," which tells the story of two dismissed public employees' struggle, has been reinstated into the festival's program.
Filmmakers withdraw from Golden Orange festival over ‘censorship’
Ahmet Boyacıoğlu, the Director of the Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival, announced that "Kanun Hükmü" had been returned to the competition selection. Boyacıoğlu shared the following statement on his social media account:
"On September 22, 2023, it was decided to reinstate the documentary film 'Kanun Hükmü' into the competition selection of the 60th Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival's National Documentary Film Competition. This decision was made based on our verification that the legal proceedings concerning one of the individuals featured in the documentary have concluded."
Additionally, Antalya Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Muhittin Böcek issued a midnight statement, saying, "For the past four years, the Antalya Metropolitan Municipality has not interfered in the formation of selection committees, the selection of juries, the content of films, or the decision of whether a film wins or not, and it will not do so in the future. The national competition category, which was previously removed from the festival's scope by the previous administration, has been reintroduced during our term with great effort and the belief in restoring the festival to its essence. This decision is the clearest indication of our stance against censorship."
What happened?
The documentary "Kanun Hükmü," directed by Nejla Demirci and depicting the struggle of two dismissed public employees, was removed from the National Documentary Film Competition of the 60th Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival due to allegations that legal proceedings involving one of the individuals featured in the documentary were ongoing.
On September 22, Ahmet Boyacıoğlu, the Director of the Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival, made an announcement regarding this issue, stating that the film would be excluded from the festival until the legal process was completed. He added, "We deeply believe in the independence of cinema and the freedom of artists to express their ideas."
Director Demirci, in response to the announcement and the sanctions imposed, characterized them as "unlawful."
Subsequently, members of the festival's jury announced that they would be unable to fulfill their duties under these circumstances. Later on, some competition films also withdrew from the festival. (AÖ/VK)