Despite an apology, Danish filmmaker Lars von Trier's comments on Nazis and Hitler have seen him kicked out of the Cannes International Film Festival.

Organizers said Thursday they were "disturbed" by his statement that he sympathized with Hitler. The festival board of directors said in a statement that it "firmly condemns these comments and declares Lars von Trier a persona non grata at the Cannes festival, with effect immediately."

Organizers said his film "Melancholia" was still in the competition and could theoretically win the Palme d'Or top prize, but that the director would not be allowed to attend the ceremony to accept.

"I thought I was a Jew for a long time and was very happy being a Jew," he said at a press conference following a screening of the film on Wednesday. He was reportedly told by his mother on her deathbed that the man he believed to be his father was not.

"Then later on came [Jewish and Danish director] Susanne Bier and then suddenly I wasn't so happy about being a Jew," he continued. "No, that was a joke, sorry. But it turned out I was not a Jew, but even if I'd been a Jew I would have been a second-rate Jew, because there is a kind of hierarchy in the Jewish population.

"But anyway, I really wanted to be a Jew and then I found out I was really a Nazi, you know, because my family was German … which also gave me some pleasure."

'I understand Hitler'

"Melancholia" star Kirsten Dunst appeared uncomfortable as he continued his rambling comments.

"What can I say? I understand Hitler. I think he did some wrong things, yes absolutely, but I can see him sitting in his bunker in the end. But come on, I'm not for the Second World War, and I'm not against Jews. I am of course very much for Jews. No, not too much because Israel is a pain in the ass. But still, how can I get out of this sentence?"

At the end of the press conference Dunst could be heard saying, "Oh Lars, that was intense."

Later Wednesday he issued a statement of apology, adding that "I am not anti-Semitic or racially prejudiced in any way, nor am I a Nazi."

Author: Holly Fox (AFP, AP, Reuters)
Editor: Martin Kuebler