Filmmakers withdraw from Golden Orange festival over ‘censorship’

The documentary "Kanun Hükmü," directed by Nejla Demirci, which tells the story of two dismissed public servants' struggle, was removed from the National Documentary Competition Selection of the 60th Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival on September 22nd. This decision came amidst allegations that one of the individuals featured in the documentary is still undergoing a legal process.

In 2014, during the 51st Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival, the pre-jury responsible for selecting documentaries revealed that the film "Yeryüzü Aşkın Yüzü Oluncaya Dek," related to the Gezi Resistance, had been removed from the festival's list by the festival administration. In response, 11 jury members had resigned.

Regarding this recent censorship, directors and producers have jointly signed a statement today, announcing that they will not participate in the festival until the documentary "Kanun Hükmü" is reinstated in the competition program.

The statement and signatories are as follows:

"We, the directors and producers of the films participating in the National Feature Film Competition, National Documentary Film Competition, and National Short Film Competition of the 60th Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival, whose signatures appear below, consider the removal of the film 'Kanun Hükmü' from the competition program as a clear threat to artistic freedom.

"In essence, we believe it is unacceptable for festivals, which are fundamentally a part of society, to succumb to censorship. Until the film 'Kanun Hükmü' is reinstated in the National Documentary Competition, we hereby announce to the public our decision not to participate in the festival with our films." (TY/VK)