Publications
Partners
Cannes - Danish filmmaker Lars von Trier has been condemned and declared "persona non grata" by the Cannes Film Festival for saying that he sympathises with Adolf Hitler.
A statement from Cannes organisers on Thursday castigated von Trier for his comments a day earlier. It is an unprecedented move by the festival that bestowed its highest honour on the director's film Dancer in the Dark back in 2000.
Though the statement did not specify whether von Trier's current film, Melancholia, has been booted from Cannes, a spokesperson for the festival press office said it remained in the competition for prizes, which will be handed out at a closing ceremony on Sunday.
Rambling
At a news conference for the film on Wednesday, von Trier said in a rambling train of thought that he understood and sympathised with Hitler. He said afterward he had been joking and later issued an apology.
The festival statement said the Cannes board of directors "firmly condemns these comments and declares Lars von Trier a persona non grata at the festival."
The festival "provides artists from around the world with an exceptional forum to present their works and defend freedom of expression and creation," the statement said. The board "profoundly regrets that this forum has been used by Lars von Trier to express comments that are unacceptable, intolerable, and contrary to the ideals of humanity and generosity that preside over the very existence of the festival."
A statement from Cannes organisers on Thursday castigated von Trier for his comments a day earlier. It is an unprecedented move by the festival that bestowed its highest honour on the director's film Dancer in the Dark back in 2000.
Though the statement did not specify whether von Trier's current film, Melancholia, has been booted from Cannes, a spokesperson for the festival press office said it remained in the competition for prizes, which will be handed out at a closing ceremony on Sunday.
Rambling
At a news conference for the film on Wednesday, von Trier said in a rambling train of thought that he understood and sympathised with Hitler. He said afterward he had been joking and later issued an apology.
The festival statement said the Cannes board of directors "firmly condemns these comments and declares Lars von Trier a persona non grata at the festival."
The festival "provides artists from around the world with an exceptional forum to present their works and defend freedom of expression and creation," the statement said. The board "profoundly regrets that this forum has been used by Lars von Trier to express comments that are unacceptable, intolerable, and contrary to the ideals of humanity and generosity that preside over the very existence of the festival."
