Nov. 28, 2023

Israel-Hamas Debate Rock Amsterdam Doc Festival

Controversy sparked with directors removing their films from the International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam (IDFA), in protest of statements announced by the festival about the Israel-Hamas war. By: Dylan Low

The International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam (IDFA) has become a battleground for heated debate regarding the ongoing Israel and Hamas war, as the festival is under fire from protests on both sides. 

IDFA artistic director, Orwa Nyrabia announced that 10 directors have removed their films from the festival due to protest over comments made by the IDFA. There was news that The Palestinian Film Institute (PFI) also announced it was pulling out from all organised activities at the IDFA film market.

Nyrabia said, “We respect the choices and the decisions of all filmmakers, whether that is to speak their minds on stage or online or to withdraw their films. All forms of peaceful protest including criticism of our work, we honour and respect.”

The PFI started a demonstration outside IDFA headquarters demanding ceasefire in Gaza and faulting IDFA’s apology response regarding their protest on opening night, involving three demonstrators showing a banner stating – “From the River to the Sea, Palestine Will Be Free”.

The slogan caused controversy amongst the people, with Jews considering it to be antisemitic and a threat to end Israel, while Palestinians recognise it to be a rallying call to end Israeli occupation and war.

Nyrabia was allegedly seen applauding the protesters, which he cleared up stating that he did not see the banner and slogan until the protest ended. He actually saw another banner in the audience that mentions “Silence is Violence,” a statement he viewed in support of freedom of expression.

Members of the Israeli film community, Chairman of the Israeli Film Academy Assaf Amir; Hagit Ben Yaakov, Chairwoman of the Israeli Documentary Forum; and Adar Shafran, Chairman of the Israeli Producers Union, all signed a letter towards the IDFA and the international film industry. They viewed the banner as “a personal attack against us,” and requested the festival and director to avoid “these calls for violence.”

IDFA released an apology statement, saying, “The slogan does not represent us, and we do not endorse it in any way. We are truly sorry that it was hurtful to many.” The festival also released another statement calling for a ceasefire and “restoration of basic services and infrastructure” in Gaza.

This caused tension with the PFI regarding the festival’s classification of the slogan. The PFI mentioned in their statement “unjustly criminalises Palestinian voices and narratives” and spurred directors to withdraw their films from the festival in protest. Iranian filmmaker Maryam Tafakory, who removed her fiction short film Mast-del, took to Instagram, mentioning that, “The river to the sea slogan is an expression of liberation and resistance by Palestinian freedom fighters. To call this slogan ‘hurtful’ is to be against the end of occupation.”

Nyrabia announced the IDFA will proceed as planned, despite ten films withdrawn from up to 280 screening titles. “We want our festival to be an open platform for all voices, but the polarisation of the world seeped in,” stated Nyrabia. “We have tried and we continue to try to make everyone feel safe and give filmmakers the feeling they can express their opinions openly and freely.”

Despite the controversy surrounding IDFA, the festival’s objectives remain to be a platform of peaceful dialogue and debate for the most divisive issues in the world today.

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