|
|
30.03.2004
Debated film ”Citizen Berlusconi” screened during European Documentary Film Festival in Oslo after all.
The decision to move the Italian documentary ”Citizen Berlusconi” from the festival program to be screened after the festival has raised much debate and media focus in Norway. Now managing director Vigdis Lian of the Norwegian Film Institute has put the film back on the festival program. Publisert: 30.03.04 | Sist endret: 02.07.04
 | |
The 3rd European Documentary Film Festival in Oslo this week is arranged in co-operation with the EU delegation to Norway and Iceland and almost all European embassies in Oslo. The Film Institute has been responsible for the selection of films for the festival, and this has been an accepted foundation for the co-operation with the embassies.
When the Norwegian Film Institute two days before the festival decided to remove the film from the program and to show it after the closure of the festival, it received a lot of criticism. The critics claimed that the Institute played Berlusconi’s game and had given in to pressure from the Italian Embassy in Oslo.
Managing director Vigdis Lian says:
”We have had talks with the Italian Embassy, but it really was my decision to cancel the festival screening of the film. However, the debate and criticism have convinced me that this decision has put the credibility of the festival at risk. The Film Institute has been suspected of censorship of a critical documentary. This is very much contrary to our intentions, so the film is now back on the schedule today and will also be screened after the festival. We have certainly never wanted to protect Berlusconi against criticism. I admit that our first decision could be interpreted that way. I therefore had to change this to remove any doubt that the Film Institute is in charge of the festival and that this festival is an arena for the varied, controversial personal documentary of Europe today.
|
