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The choice of the British actor as head of the
panel was criticised in German newspapers and the movie press,
who highlighted past comments attributed to him on gay marriage,
inappropriate touching of women and abortion.
One critic noted it would have sufficed "to put the words Jeremy
Irons and Me Too" into a search engine to establish his
inappropriateness.
"I should like – not as the jury president, but on a personal
level – to address various comments that I have reportedly made
in the past, and which have resurfaced in certain sections of
the press over the past few weeks," he said.
"I wish I didn’t have to take up time with this, but I don’t
want it to continue as a distraction to the Berlinale."
Devised in the aftermath of World War Two in a divided city on
the frontline of the Cold War, the Berlinale is seen as the most
overtly political of the major film festivals, highlighting
films that champion progressive causes.
"I support wholeheartedly the global movement to address the
inequality of women's rights," Irons told the opening news
conference of the 70th Berlinale, adding that he was also a
supporter of same-sex marriage and of women's right to abortion.
"These three human rights are, I believe, essential steps toward
a civilised and humane society, for which we should all continue
to strive."
He said: "I hope that some of the films we will be watching will
address these problems."
The festival opens on Thursday with Canadian director Philippe
Falardeau's "My Salinger Year", in which Margaret Qualley stars
opposite Sigourney Weaver as an ambitious young woman eager to
forge a career as a writer in 1990s New York.
In all, 18 films are competing for the Golden Bear prize chosen
by Irons' panel.
(Reporting by Thomas Escritt and Tara Oakes; Editing by Alison
Williams)
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