Further to my earlier post about Ken Park, confirmation predictably came through that there would be no Ken Park at the SFF.
The controversial film Ken Park will not screen at this year's Sydney Film Festival after organisers today said they had "exhausted all avenues of appeal".
Festival organisers received a letter this morning from NSW Attorney General Bob Debus outlining the NSW government's position.
"Festival guidelines ... clearly state that films that have either been classified X or RC (Refused Classification) will not be granted an exemption to be shown at a film festival," the letter said.
"I regret therefore that I am not in a position to direct that an exemption be granted."
Still, Debus has evidently been sufficiently moved by the festival's plight to try and do something about it:
The NSW Attorney-General, Bob Debus, is moving to ensure that films refused classification can screen at major festivals.
On the day Ken Park was due to screen at the Sydney Film Festival, Mr Debus said he was worried about the effect on the festival's status by the ban on the controversial American drama.
"I consider that eminent film festivals such as the Sydney Film Festival should be enabled to screen films to an adult audience, even in circumstances where the film has been refused classification," he said in a letter to the festival. [...]
Mr Debus said he would propose the change to state and territory censorship ministers. He hoped "a broad general exemption" would be operating in time for next year's festival. [...]
The Australian Screen Directors Association called for an urgent review of the OFLC's guidelines.
"The fact that the Sydney Film Festival is not able to screen a film that has been shown in major festivals around the world is a national disgrace and will make Australia a cultural laughing stock," said the association's Richard Harris.
Melbourne's trying to evade the ban, too, asking the Victorian Attorney-General to overturn the ban in time for the Melbourne International Film Festival. I wouldn't be holding my breath if I were them, though...
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