27/03/2025 | Writer: Kaos GL
The Istanbul Pride Week Committee stated: “The removal of the “Where Are You My Love?” section from this year's Istanbul Film Festival program marks a new phase in the policies of invisibilization and censorship in the cultural sphere.”
IKSV removed the "Where Are You My Love" section, which has been part of the Istanbul Film Festival program since 2014 and features queer films, from the lineup of the 44th Istanbul Film Festival, set to take place from April 11 to 25. The Istanbul Pride Week Committee reacted to the removal of the " Where Are You My Love " section from the festival program with a statement on their social media accounts.
The committee stated:
“There is something missing at this year’s Istanbul Film Festival, which IKSV organizes annually! The removal of the “Where Are You My Love?” section, which has featured queer films since 2014, marks a new phase in the policies of invisibilization and censorship in the cultural sphere. This is not merely a program change but also a clear indication of the systematic exclusion of queer cinema. We are well aware that this is not the first instance of censorship by the Istanbul Film Festival, which prefers to maintain close ties with the state.”
Last year, the festival canceled the National Competition and the National Documentary Competition, restricting spaces for local film production and exhibition while also enabling censorship mechanisms against Kurdish Cinema.
The Istanbul Pride Week Committee further added in their statement:
“By canceling the National Competition and National Documentary Competition last year, the festival not only limited opportunities for local cinema production and exhibition but also facilitated censorship mechanisms targeting Kurdish Cinema. Now, by eliminating a section that makes queer existences visible, it chooses to deepen the impact of censorship in the cultural sphere. We recognize that this decision stems from the state’s efforts to criminalize queer existence under the so-called “Year of the Family” initiative. In the current political climate of oppression, this decision also serves to isolate LGBTI+ individuals, and we refuse to accept it.”
Calling on the Istanbul Film Festival to uphold freedom of expression, the Istanbul Pride Week Committee also issued a boycott call:
“Censorship does not only operate by removing films from the program but also through silence. We call on the Istanbul Film Festival to defend the fundamental power of cinema, freedom of expression, because this discrimination and censorship do not affect only LGBTI+ people. Censorship and discrimination in artistic production undermine the broader struggle for rights and freedoms. We declare that we will boycott the festival until this censorship is lifted, cancel our Lale Card memberships, and refrain from purchasing tickets. We invite everyone to join this boycott. We will continue to stand strong in solidarity against this decision that erases queer existences!”
Tags: media, arts and culture
