Female cinematographers call for change at Camerimage following festival director’s Marek Żydowicz’s comments, which some alleged were misogynistic.

British filmmaker Steve McQueen will no longer attend a screening of his latest feature Blitz at Poland’s Camerimage Film Festival following the fallout of a controversial op-ed written by the festival’s founder and head Marek Żydowicz.

"Blitz" is the opening night film of the Polish cinematography festival, considered a key Oscar bellwether, and McQueen was to have been the guest of honor.

Steve McQueen is no longer attending the opening night screening of his new film “Blitz” at Camerimage Film Festival over comments the festival director made about women cinematographers. He was also set to receive the outstanding director award at the event.

Women in Cinematography - the popular and influential union that represents women cinematographers across the globe - has become the latest industry organization to publicly criticize Camerimage Film Festival head Marek Żydowicz for comments he made last week in a magazine op-ed.

"Having read Marek Zydowicz's op-ed concerning female cinematographers, I have decided not to attend the opening night presentation of my film Blitz this weekend," McQueen told th

The CEO and founder of the Camerimage Film Festival, Marek Żydowicz, has been called out for penning an op-ed in which he questioned if the recognition and inclusion of women's work in cinematography could dilute the quality of what has historically been submitted.

The 'Blitz' director was supposed to be in attendance for his opening night film, and he was being honored with the outstanding director award.