**Cate Blanchett and Camerimage Jury Emphasize Commitment to Gender Inclusivity Amid Controversy**

The jury members of the EnergaCamerimage International Cinematography Film Festival, including Cate Blanchett, have voiced their strong support for fostering inclusive discussions following contentious remarks made by the festival's director. His comments, which highlighted the scarcity of female cinematographers in the festival's lineup, sparked significant backlash.

The jury, which consists of Blanchett, Anthony Dod Mantle, Anna Higgs, Sandy Powell, Rodrigo Prieto, Lukasz Zal, and Jolanta Dylewska, released a statement seeking to address the ongoing debate about gender representation in the industry. "We welcome debate regarding gender representation," they articulated in a statement disseminated by Higgs and Powell. The jury underscored their eagerness to engage in "meaningful discussions" aimed at improving inclusivity and recognizing excellence in diverse forms within the cinematography field.

Blanchett, who presides over the main competition jury at this year’s 32nd edition of the festival, expressed a dedication to being part of conversations that could drive the necessary shift towards genuine inclusivity. "Festivals can be a great forum for engaging in such conversations and championing positive change," the statement emphasized, signaling the jurors' collective support for a more inclusive industry.

Controversy erupted earlier this week when filmmaker Steve McQueen withdrew from the festival's opening night festivities. McQueen, who was set to receive an outstanding director award and present his new film "Blitz", withdrew in protest. He criticized the comments of Festival Director Marek Żydowicz, who had attempted to justify the lack of female cinematographers by suggesting that increasing their numbers might compromise the selection quality. Despite Żydowicz’s subsequent apology, McQueen found the original remarks too offensive to overlook, stressing the necessity for greater inclusivity and acknowledgment of talent across all genders.

In his original commentary published in Cinematography World magazine, Żydowicz insinuated that prioritizing female cinematographers and directors could lead to the inclusion of "mediocre film productions" at the cost of excluding high-caliber artistic works. These statements were met with widespread criticism, including a strongly worded open letter from the British Society of Cinematographers accusing Żydowicz of harboring misogynistic views. In response, Żydowicz defended his stance, maintaining that Camerimage has always aimed to feature top-tier contemporary cinema without bias towards the creators' gender.