- Director Jane Campion protests against apartheid film festival Archived Message
Posted by Morrissey
on July 26, 2023, 7:52 pm
|
Last week PSNA (Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa) congratulated New Zealand film director Jane Campion on her request for her debut film Sweetie to be withdrawn from apartheid Israel’s Jerusalem Film Festival. The announcement was made by PACBI (Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel) in this release: https://bdsmovement.net/jerusalem-film-festival-2023 PSNA has been working with PACBI on appeals to film directors at the festival and we are delighted to have an esteemed New Zealand director join at least four other international film directors in requesting their films be withdrawn from the Festival which is partnered with the Israeli Ministry of Culture. This is a moment of pride for Aotearoa New Zealand – similar to the pride felt when New Zealand entertainer Lorde cancelled a scheduled concert in Israel in 2018. At a time when Palestinians are suffering immeasurably under the most fanatical, openly racist Israeli government ever, this solidarity action will be deeply appreciated by Palestinians everywhere. These film directors are taking action where governments, New Zealand included, have failed morally and politically, again and again and again, to hold Israel accountable for its crimes against the Palestinian people. This is similar to the fight against apartheid in South Africa in the 1970s and 1980s when it was civil society organisations around the world, and in New Zealand, which led the anti-apartheid struggle outside South Africa while western governments either colluded with the regime or looked the other way. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Send a letter of congratulations to Jane Campion. You can write your own letter or copy and paste this letter and email it to Jane’s agent Kate Richter kate.richter@hlamgt.com.au ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Message for Jane Campion c/o Kate Richter kate.richter@hlamgt.com.au Kia ora Jane, Thank you Jane Campion Thank you for making me proud to be a New Zealander. Your request to have your film withdrawn from the Jerusalem Film Festival is encouraging and inspiring. So many other film directors are too nervous to challenge Israel for fear of false smears of anti-semitism but you have taken a principled position. I applaud you for doing so. This is a moment of pride for Aotearoa New Zealand – similar to the pride we felt when New Zealand entertainer Lorde cancelled a scheduled concert in Israel in 2018. The Jerusalem Film Festival is partnered with the apartheid Israel Ministry of Culture. It is part of Israel’s apartheid establishment. Just as we protested and boycotted apartheid South Africa last century, we must challenge apartheid Israel in the same way this century. We must stand up for human rights everywhere and not give apartheid Israel a free pass to abuse Palestinians. Thank you again Jane Campion. |
| Message Thread:
|