From Oscar Shortlist to Forced Shutdown: 'Israeli' authorities raid screening of Palestine 36
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On Thursday, January 22, 'Israeli' authorities raided the Yabous Cultural Center and Cinematheque in occupied East Jerusalem and forcibly halted a scheduled screening of the film Palestine 36.
During the raid, authorities detained the projectionist, took him in for interrogation, and posted an official notice prohibiting any future screenings of the film along with a wholly false and baseless allegation that Yabous was screening a film promoting work by a terrorist organization an accusation that is both factually incorrect and profoundly absurd.
Read more: 'Israeli' forces block Palestine 36 screening at Jerusalem cultural center
These actions took place in the presence of members of the film team and theater staff and constitute a serious violation of artistic freedom and freedom of expression.
This incident comes on the heels of the film’s landmark local release in cinemas, one that has been met with extraordinary public interest, marking a milestone moment in the country’s cinema landscape, with all screenings consistently sold out.
Palestine 36, an official British/French/Palestinian co-production includes support by the BBC, British Film Institute, France’s National Centre for Cinema and the Moving Image (CNC) and has received significant international recognition.
The film is set in 1936 during the British Mandate and has been shortlisted in the Academy Awards International Feature Film category.
Read more: "Palestine 36" faces organized smear campaign
Palestine 36 has been nominated for the Irish Film and Television Academy Awards, won Best Film at the Tokyo International Film Festival, was shortlisted at the European Film Academy, and received the Audience Award in São Paulo International Film Festival. It is currently screening in cinemas in France, the United Kingdom, and across the Arab world.
The forced cancellation of a cultural event, the detention of an individual for carrying out a technical role, and the blanket ban on future screenings represent a serious violation of freedom of expression and artistic freedom. These actions are intended to intimidate cultural workers and deter artistic expression more broadly.
Film screenings are a legitimate and peaceful form of cultural and public discourse, and their suppression raises grave concerns about censorship and the misuse of authority.
Acitivists called on the authorities to immediately cease actions that restrict freedom of expression, to clarify the legal basis for the shutdown and detention, and to ensure that artists, cultural organizers, and technical staff can carry out their work without fear of harassment or punishment.
