Jerusalem Not Politically Correct
Festivals Turning Down Israeli Films
Israeli filmmakers receive letter from Documentary Film Festival in Lussas, France, notifying them that because of war in Lebanon festival had changed its plan to hold special program on Israeli documentary film, decided to screen Lebanese, Palestinian films instead
Outside of Israel the war in Lebanon has given rise to an increasingly bitter dispute about how to deal with Israeli art and whether to give it a platform. The participation of some Israeli artists in various festivals has been canceled. No one is speaking publicly yet about a cultural boycott of Israel, but in the near future Israeli art may be forced to fight for its existence.
A number of Israeli filmmakers recently received a letter from the directors of a the Documentary Film Festival in Lussas, France, notifying them that because of the war in Lebanon and the tense situation in the territories, the festival had changed its plan to hold a special program on Israeli documentary film.
The letter, signed by the festival's director, artistic director, and program director, claimed that "it is difficult to look at films from the countries involved in the current war with the same degree of detachment."
As a result, the letter said, they have decided "to change the program, and not to screen all the Israeli films that were originally scheduled." They plan to organize a discussion of the political aspect of the conflict, and "to create a program of Lebanese and Palestinian films that will show our opposition to the war."
According to the festival directors, their decisions were made as a political gesture. "The program was not intended to be representative of any particular national identity," they said, but to take a critical look at Israeli society, and present opposition to Israeli policy and all "dangerous oversimplifications."
Eighteen Israeli films were originally scheduled for screening at the festival, and seven were canceled. Festival attendees wishing to view the films can see them at the library. The other 11 Israeli films will be shown as scheduled.
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