Cate Blanchett and other world-famous artists unite in solidarity with Hungarian film, theatre university
Several prominent figures of British cultural life have signed the open letter that is soon to be published in the UK, to draw the public’s attention to the recent events surrounding the Hungarian film arts university, and to express solidarity with protesters in Hungary.
The recent turmoil around the Hungarian University of Theatre and Film Arts (SZFE) is about to receive even wider international attention: an open letter is soon to be published in the United Kingdom, already with a very long list of supporters who are all very significant and famous figures of British cultural and public life.
The letter will talk in detail about the stages of the institution’s transformation from the appointment of the new board to the recent events of students occupying the university building and will ask the Hungarian government to withdraw its decision to pass the control over the institution into the hands of a private foundation.
The letter is aimed at giving a supporting hand to the students and the authentic leadership of the university, which is another victim in this “cultural war where the entire cultural sphere and its institutions are being ripped of their autonomy”, writes Népszava.
The petition was started by David Lan, former leader of the Young Vic Theatre in London, and has been signed by a large number of actors, actresses, directors, dramatists, and writers, including several world-famous artists such as Cate Blanchett, Helen Mirren, Eddie Redmayne, Peter Brook, and Pawel Pawlikowski. For the full list of supporters, click here.
This is not the first time the turmoil around the film and drama university has received international attention. Several institutions and individual artists in the film and drama industry have expressed their solidarity, from the European Film Academy to the writer Salman Rushdie. Most recently, it was Eva Green to publish a photo to send her support to the protesters.
Source: nepszava.hu, hvg.hu