Director Lars Von Trier, who has expressed Wednesday “sympathy” for Hitler, was declared on Thursday “persona non grata” by the organizers of the Cannes Festival, this decision with immediate effect, but the movie by the Danish filmmaker was not excluded from the competition.
“Administrative Council strongly condemns the statements by Lars Von Trier and declared him persona non grata at the Film Festival de Cannes, and this has immediate effect,” was announced in a statement.
Organizers of the Cannes festival stated that this sanction will not exclude Danish filmmaker film from the official race for the Palme d’Or.
Festival President Gilles Jacob, called on Thursday morning, an extraordinary board meeting to consider possible sanctions against the famous Danish film director.
According to a participant at this meeting, Lars Von Trier “remains in competition, but was asked to be discreet. If he will receive an award on Sunday, he was asked not to come to get it”.
Many personalities from the film industry, especially the French, called Wednesday evening for the Danish filmmaker exclusion or at least the adoption of sanctions for the statements made by Von Trier.
“Cannes Film Festival provides artists all over the world exceptional stand to present their works and to defend freedom of expression and creativity” and “deeply regrets that this stand has been used by Lars Von Trier to express words unacceptable, intolerable, contrary to the ideals of humanism and generosity, the very existence of those principles which are at the heart of the festival”, organizers added.
At a press conference held on Wednesday, after the projection of his most recent film, entitled “Melancholia”, Danish director Lars Von Trier has shocked audiences at Cannes, expressing sympathy for Hitler, which he “understands”, and stating that “Israel really takes you out of temper”.
At the request of festival organizers, the Danish filmmaker has apologized on Wednesday afternoon.
Lars Von Trier has made those comments while responding to a question from the journalists about his German origins, which he discovered in 1989 after his mother died, but also in connection to his recent statements for a Danish magazine, on his “taste for Nazi aesthetics”.
Lars Von Trier ended the interview awkwardly embarrassed and laughing: “Okay, I’m a Nazi”.
Born on April 30, 1956, in Denmark, Lars von Trier is one of the filmmakers whose works have significantly influenced the European cinema. A graduate of the Danish National Film School, Von Trier featured his film debut in 1984 with “The Element of Crime” for which he won at Cannes, the prize for technical support.
Director’s career also includes famous titles such as ” Breaking the Waves”, awarded the grand prize at Cannes (1996), ” Dancer in the Dark”, winner of the Palme d’Or trophy, “Dogville (2003), European Film Award winner, “Manderlay” (2005) and “The Boss Of It All” (2006).