Campion complains about Indian festival
According to reports from India, director Jane Campion has lodged a complaint against the husband of a women’s film festival organiser in that country.
Campion is joined by fellow director Ayesha Arif Khan (Pakistan). The report says the filmmakers claim they were harassed by Bhaskar Deb, who is married to the organiser of the India International Women Film Festival, Shyamali Banerjee.
The complaint was sent to the Ministry of Urban Development. The Times of India quotes Campion as saying that the festival was a “scandalous fraud” where “many other women experienced rude and even lewd advances from the husband of the festival director”.
The reports add that the accused man denied meeting Campion, and said that she had turned “vindictive” because he questioned her cinematic knowledge.
Minister Saugata Roy announced that the matter is currently being investigated, with the complaints forwarded to the police. He denied any links between the ministry and the festival.
Update: Campion has denied being sexually harassed, but admittedthe festival was “fraudelently presented and organised”.
