PHILADELPHIA (VINnews) — A film theater in Philadelphia has been forced by a judge to showcase an Israeli film, after it tried to breach its contract by canceling the screening, claiming the decision was done for “public safety”.
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The attempt to cancel the screening following pressure from a pro-Palestinian group sparked backlash from members of the Jewish community as well as a court order that was requested by the film festival that organized the initial screening.
“This attempt to censor the arts and culture of Israel was not successful,” wrote the Israeli Film Festival (IFF) in a statement.
The development came about as a result of a Temporary Restraining Order by Judge Richard P. Haaz.
Here is the fakakta message @BMFI has on their website now. To say they handled it badly is an enormous understatement. pic.twitter.com/lJCAdmoNjB
— Deborah Muller (@DeborahMullerAZ) April 9, 2024
Now the theater has posted a tweet that reads:
“Let’s be direct: we handled all of this very badly.
“We allowed the Israeli Film Festival to rent a theater at BMFI, as they have done for several years, to showcase a nonpolitical documentary about a musician. Due to concern for public safety, we decided to cancel the screening. The Israeli Film Festival has filed an injunction with a Montgomery County judge for breaking our contract, and we have been ordered to show The Child Within Me, so we are showing the movie.
“BMFI is an institution run by human beings. We are flawed and have blind spots. Sometimes we make bad calls. We understand that our actions have hurt and offended many. That was the opposite of our intention, and we apologize for disappointing so many members of our community.”
The week-long 28th annual Israeli Film Festival of Philadelphia is a celebration of Israeli culture in the Philadelphia area with selected Israeli movies screening at the Philadelphia Film Center in Center City, the Bryn Mawr Film Institute (BMFI) in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania and the PFS East Theater in Old City.
On Monday, the Philly Palestine Coalition called for the Israeli Film Festival to be canceled.
“Since 1950, Israel Bonds have funneled tens of billions of dollars into almost every sector of the Israeli economy – from civilian infrastructure in illegal West Bank settlements where Palestinians are prohibited to technology used to surveil Palestinians,” the Philly Palestine Coalition wrote in a petition. “This money directly contributes to the displacement of Palestinians, the expansions of unlawful settlements, and unchecked settler violence. Hosting an event sponsored by Israel Bonds is unconscionable, especially in the midst of a genocide.”
While organizers of the Israeli Film Festival have not canceled the event, the BMFI announced Monday that they canceled their screening of one of the movies involved in the festival, “The Child Within Me,” a documentary focused on Israeli musician Yehuda Poliker.
In its cancellation press release, the theater wrote:
“Bryn Mawr Film Institute is not a political organization. We don’t endorse or oppose any causes. In past years, we have not regarded hosting a screening from the Israeli Film Festival as a political partnership or taking a stance on any issues,” a BMFI spokesperson wrote. “This was our feeling when we arranged the 2024 screening many months ago. However, as the situation in Israel and Gaza has developed, it has become clear that our showing this movie is being widely taken among individuals and institutions in our community as an endorsement of Israel’s recent and ongoing actions. This is not a statement we intended or wish to make. For this reason, BMFI is canceling the sole screening of the music documentary, The Child Within Me.”
The decision sparked outrage from local Jewish groups, including the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia and ADL Philadelphia.
“Although BMFI states that this decision was made in an attempt to avoid controversy, this action only serves to blacklist Israeli culture, playing into the hands of antisemites who try to deny the Jewish people their voice and existence,” a spokesperson for both organizations wrote. “The IFF intentionally offers a multifaceted view of Israeli society. Each season, carefully curated feature films and documentaries provide glimpses into the intricate tapestry of Israeli life, allowing audiences to form their own informed opinions.”
Anti-Semites.
We are not doing enough to het in their faces the way they get in ours. We need to show up in numbers when people who support Palestinian terrorists try to congregate or have dinner. I don’t know who can arrange this since we all have jobs.
American ship is sinking
Until we bring it back to these cowards and start to interrupt their demonstration this will continue. The only thing they understand is force
Seriously?! All they did was make themselves into lame stupid Anti Semites!
Do they want to have Gaza for Palestinians – then they should all go there. Do they want to have Palestinians in Philly – then Israel should ship all the Palis there!
They cant have it both ways.
The Muslim minority is getting too big for itself. Pushing their agendas which end with Convert or Die.
This is what an open door policy gets you.