Open Letter to the British Film Institute

totally support you...as a gay man i support biological women as much as possible and think having a mtf give the key note speech is ridiculous.

This keeps happening at events celebrating the work of women over the last 100 years and more. The irony, not to mention the hypocrisy, is obvious for all to see and undermines the whole purpose of these events.

When I think of women struggling in the film industry who have been denied this opportunity it reminds me of why continuing to fight for a place in this world is so important.

Disappointed to see an event aimed at raising women's profile within film focusing on a male who is not even a filmmaker.

This is so insulting to women film makers. Could you not have chosen an accomplished female director to open for you? Perhaps, Clio Barnard, Andrea Arnold, Lynne Ramsey, Rachel Tunnard, Hope Dickinson-Leech, Christina Choe, to name but a few?

i am a day older than germaine greer.i went to the first womens liberation meeting in leeds. at that time any major purchase i made, had to be guaranteed by my husband, i had to agree to be sterilized, in order to get an abortion after one stillbirth and one child dead at two days, and i had to get approval from my husband... harriet harman got jeered at for womens issues, dont do this. it is so ignorant and insulting

As a lesbian woman, I find your selection of a speaker who is vehemently antilesbian, disappointing. Considering you are celebrating women's suffrage, makes your speaker selection outrageous and REGRESSIVE!

Not a film maker and no experience of bring a woman in our industry. How insulting and demeaning to those who’ve crafted for years and what an appalling messsge to the young female talent trying to break through

On what planet is it appropriate to allow a determined male at conception person who is mostly famous for espousing misogynistic (and homophobic and racist) views to be key note speaker for WOMEN? We can speak for ourselves, we do not need a man in woman face doing so.

Find a woman instead

Is this a joke

To have a keynote speaker with absolutely no relevance or connection to the industry is inappropriate. A keynote should set the tone of the subjects being discussed subsequently, which means it really must be given by someone with long experience in that subject.

So, once again, an opportunity for women to be heard, has been squandered. By giving it to a male. And not just any male, either. One whose mysoginistic views are well documented. Could the BFI really not find an actual camera woman?

Males are the oppressor.

Thanks Patrica Arquette and her dramatics for bringing this to my attention.

Highly problematical as a keynote speaker.

Women are so underrepresented in all areas of film (apart from porn, who’da thought it?!) that to have a male, non- film-maker, non anything to do with film, absolutely and ironically extraordinary. I think the choice of keynote speaker should be re-thought.

Manroe is male. He doesn't make films. Get the fuck out of here

I agree totally with what is said in the petition. The title ‘Woman with a Movie Camera’ of necessity needs a woman to present the whole thing. Never mind that it may be a man who sympathises with the issues.

That this person has been selected serves only to demonstrate the sexism that women face in this and countless other industries; the least qualified non-woman is given greater opportunity than even the most qualified woman. This choice belittles all women, especially those working against structural inequality and sexism to achieve success in the film industry.