News emerged last week of film-maker John Greyson removing his film from the Toronto International Film Festival due to its planned spotlight on Tel Aviv. Now, with serious global stars attached, the situation in Palestine receives the kind of attention it deserves:
An international group of more than 50 prominent filmmakers, writers, artists and academics – including Ken Loach, David Byrne, Naomi Klein, Alice Walker, Jane Fonda, Wallace Shawn and Danny Glover – has signed a letter protesting the Toronto International Film Festival’s decision to spotlight the city of Tel Aviv and the work of 10 Israeli filmmakers.
The letter is to be published online Thursday, with a call for additional signatories.
“As members of the Canadian and international film, culture and media arts communities, we are deeply disturbed by [TIFF’s] decision to host a celebratory spotlight on Tel Aviv,” the letter begins. “We protest that TIFF, whether intentionally or not, has become complicit in the Israeli propaganda machine.”