Danish director Lars Von Trier was told to leave the Cannes Film Festival on Thursday after he for jokingly calling himself a Nazi and Hitler sympathizer at a press conference on Wednesday for his new movie, Melancholia. “I think I understand the man (Hitler),” Von Trier said. “He’s not what you would call a good guy, but I understand much about him and I sympathize with him a little bit. 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?” Quickly realizing his remarks were offensive, he apologized, but it was too late. “The Festival de Cannes provides artists from around the world with an exceptional forum to present their works and defend freedom of expression and creation. The Festival’s Board of Directors, which held an extraordinary meeting this Thursday 19 May 2011, profoundly regrets that this forum has been used by Lars Von Trier to express comments that are unacceptable, intolerable, and contrary to the ideals of humanity and generosity that preside over the very existence of the Festival. The Board of Directors firmly condemns these comments and declares Lars Von Trier a persona non grata at the Festival de Cannes, with effect immediately,” organizers said in a statement on Thursday. Melancholia stars Kirsten Dunst, Kiefer Sutherland and John Hurt. Von Trier, who’s had nine films nominated for prizes at the Cannes Film Festival over the past 27 years, won Cannes’ top Palme d’Or award in 2000 for Dancer in the Dark.