Two British cinemas have dropped out of hosting an Israeli film festival in Britain over safety fears amid the conflict in Gaza.
UK organisers of Seret Film Festival say partner cinemas have refused to host screenings for this years event because of alleged threats of ‘ongoing demonstrations and boycotts’ from ‘anti-Israel entities’.
The film festival, now in its 13th year, aims to showcase the diversity of Israeli life and culture through film and TV.
Festival co-founder and CEO Odelia Haroush criticised Curzon and Picturehouse for refusing to host screenings and accused them of ‘cancelling culture’.
Picturehouse cinema has pulled out of an Israeli film festival over safety fears amid the conflict in Gaza (stock)
Festival co-founder and CEO Odelia Haroush (pictured) criticised Curzon and Picturehouse for refusing to host screenings and accused them of ‘cancelling culture’
She told The Times: ‘It is not that I am going to show [films] that show everything is blooming and great in Israel. We pick films on their artistic values and not political values. But I believe from the bottom of my heart in free speech.’
She went on to say that filmmakers were ‘not to blame’ for what is going on in Israel and that it was important for the country’s culture to be seen by the rest of the world.
Organisers are appealing for financial support and have set up a crowdfunder to raise funds for the festival.
Ms Haroush told The Jewish Chronicle: ‘We were very concerned that some of the cinemas didn’t want to work with us at all.’
Patty Hochmann (pictured) a co-founder of the Seret Film Festival
The film festival led to protests last month in Amsterdam
She recalled how in February, a Barcelona cinema cancelled all Seret screenings two days before the festival because the cinema owner had received threats to his business and family.
In Amsterdam, Haroush said organisers faced ‘even more obstacles’, with several cinemas refusing to support the festival despite having worked with them since they were founded.
She went on to say: ‘Because of the war, some cinemas decided that they did not want to work with us and be associated with Israel. We had to find different locations and some of them [the cinemas] haven’t wanted to advertise or share ticket sales. We’ve had to hire the venues and have organised added security.’
Previous screenings in the UK have been held at cinemas including Picturehouse Hackney, Everyman Belsize Park, the Cambridge Arts Picturehouse and Phoenix East Finchley.
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