Statements

I support the boycott of TLVFest just as I supported the boycott of the France-Israel Season last year and as I am for the boycott of Israeli policy in general. The Israeli government has imprisoned the Palestinian people for decades, colonized them, stole their lands and resources, denied them their right to exist as a nation. The Israeli government remains deaf to United Nations resolutions; at times Europe protests timidly against this colonial policy. Finally, the plight of the Palestinians is the great scandal of the beginning of this century. All cultural initiatives allow Israel to develop respectability, an image of an open and tolerant state. The boycott now remains the only instrument for the international struggle against Israeli policy, the only instrument that I have in order not to be complicit in this oppression of an entire people. The boycott allows me to make sure we don’t forget the dark side of Israel. A massive boycott will necessarily lead the Israeli government to change its policy against the Palestinian people. Let’s not forget that it was an international boycott that led to the release of Nelson Mandela and the end of apartheid in South Africa.

— Alain Guiraudie, Palme d’Or nominee

I signed the pledge because queer and other Palestinians are asking international filmmakers to take a stand, just as was done in the fight against apartheid in South Africa.

I signed the pledge because TLVFest is funded by Israel’s far-right government and its Film Council, serving the government’s pinkwashing agenda.

I signed the pledge because TLVFest has partnered with Creative Community for Peace, a front group for the right-wing, Israeli-government connected group Stand With Us. In turn, Stand with Us is allied with the homophobic and far-right group Christians United for Israel.

I signed the pledge because despite eleven years of calls to reject government funding, TLVFest has fought to maintain it, at the expense of queer Palestinians.

In the future, I do hope that I’ll be able to screen my films at TLVFest, when they stop pinkwashing and publicly uphold Palestinian rights under international law as a necessary step towards achieving a just peace for Israelis and Palestinians. Until then, I hope you’ll also sign the pledge.

— John Greyson, award-winning director

In Korea I constantly learn of these pinkwashing issues, so I have tried my best to engage in the BDS movement. Israel is burying its head in the sand, so I couldn’t just wait and see. I signed the pledge in order to deliver the message that I am strongly opposed to pinkwashing. I send Palestinians solidarity with all my heart.

— Minji Ma, EIDF Grand Prix winner

It’s nonsense to defend my human rights in a way that suppresses others. My human rights are closely linked to Palestinian queers’ human rights. Without Palestinian liberation, there is no queer liberation!

— Hyun Lego Park, Director, Seoul Human Rights Film Festival