Lars Von Trier "fully accepts" his ban from the Cannes Film Festival, according to his producer partner.
Organisers of the annual French event declared von Trier a "persona non grata" on Thursday (19May11), a day after he shocked reporters and critics at a press conference for his new release Melancholia by rambling on about his German ancestry and admitting he could "understand" Nazi leader Adolf Hitler.
He subsequently apologised for his remarks to Cannes officials, who explained that he felt he had "allowed himself to be egged on by a provocation" during the screening.
Von Trier's offer to make amends was not enough to smooth over the scandal and Cannes organisers decided to forbid him from attending any further festivities.
But the moviemaker is "fine" and is taking the ban in his stride, according to his producer Meta Foldager.
Foldager tells the AFP, "Lars accepts whatever the festival directors want to do to punish him. He fully accepts that... it's up to the festival to decide what is good for the festival."
Von Trier's disaster drama Melancholia, which was warmly received by critics at Wednesday's (18May11) premiere, remains in the running for Cannes' top accolade, the Palme d'Or.
However, the director's controversial remarks have already had a negative impact on the movie - executives at Argentina's Distribution Company SA, which owns the rights to the film's release in parts of South America, have already cut ties with von Trier and will no longer screen the drama in cinemas.
Tagged in Cannes Film Festival Lars Von trier