Bristol film festival refuses funding from Israeli Embassy
Another boycott controversy blackened the British arts scene this week when a Bristol film festival refused funding from the Israeli Embassy to bring two Israeli filmmakers to the UK for the event, writes Stephen Oryszczuk.
Yoav Hornung (pictured) and Niv Shpigel were to attend screenings of their films at the Encounters Festival due to be held in September, but fell foul of what Jewish leaders claim was “just the latest ultimatum”.
Encouters festival organiser Debbie Lander said the money was refused to avoid “negative consequences”.
A spokeswoman said states often fund film-makers’ travel either directly or through festival funding and sponsorship, with the Israeli Embassy opting for the latter.
However, on the back of the Gaza conflict, the spokeswoman added: “The decision was taken [this year] to refuse the offer of financial support from the Embassy of Israel in order to maintain the festival’s neutral political status.”
Israel is the first state from which funding has been refused, but organisers denied it was a boycott, saying: “We welcome film-makers from all over the world.”
The explanation did not go down well with local Jewish groups, however, who reacted with disdain.
Bristol Hebrew Congregation president Alex Schlesinger said: “It echoes similar responses from event organisers in Edinburgh and London and reflects the fear of street mob rule that has been witnessed in Manchester and Brighton.
“It is disappointing and worrying that organisations are now starting to surrender to mob rule,” he said. “How long before the anti-Israel street lobby start shaping thinking and policy in government and public administration?”
He added: “It’s no coincidence that the only country being singled out for such treatment is the Jewish homeland.”
Attending will be Jewish author Will Self, who described Israel’s actions in Gaza as a “rampant obscenity,” and Yoni Goodman, an Israeli animation film director being flown in by the festival because he is acting as a judge.
“Boycotting is the wrong way to go, especially in the arts,” said Goodman. “It shouldn’t be political. I don’t think there’s a problem with inviting Israelis, after all I’m Israeli and I’m there. It’s a problem with accepting money from the State of Israel. It’s bureaucracy more than anything.”
But Schlesinger was indignant, saying:
“Israeli film directors are welcome as individuals, but implicitly not as citizens or representatives of the cultural life of the Jewish state.”
A Board of Deputies spokesman agreed, saying: “This latest ultimatum is another disturbing example of how arts institutions are asking Jews to effectively disavow from the state of Israel. Instead of trying to make misguided political statements, arts institutions should do what they are supposed to: allow for artistic expression.”
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
