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Schrader film's pedophilia plot divides festivals
27 Oct
Summary
- Paul Schrader's new film 'The Basics of Philosophy' was rejected by three major festivals.
- Festivals cited the film's subject matter involving a pedophile professor as the reason.
- The movie premiered at Venice in September 2026 and also screened at The Downtown Festival.
Filmmaker Paul Schrader expressed surprise as his latest project, "The Basics of Philosophy," was turned away by three film festivals that have historically supported his work. Schrader noted that two of these festivals, Telluride and Toronto, cited the film's subject matter as the reason for its rejection.
The film's narrative centers on a philosophy professor, Dr. John Jorissen, who is revealed to be a pedophile, grappling with his past and future. This controversial plotline has led to division among film festivals.
Despite the rejections, "The Basics of Philosophy" received its world premiere at the 83rd Venice International Film Festival in September 2026. It subsequently played to a receptive audience at its U.S. premiere at The Downtown Festival, indicating varied reception to the work.
