Protests outside the event
(Video: Shirit Gal)
The Israeli Seret International Film Festival opened on Sunday in the UK’s capital, London. Founded in Britain 13 years ago, the festival has since grown and expanded to other countries, including the Netherlands, Germany, Chile, Argentina and Spain, and is now considered the largest Israeli film festival in the world.
This year, the festival faced significant challenges due to the hostile attitude toward Jews and Israelis globally, including attempts to cancel the event, screening cancellations, threats of protests and personal threats made against festival participants and collaborators. Despite these difficulties, the festival is proceeding as planned.
While the festival's opening event last Thursday went off without major incidents, Sunday’s screenings in north London were met with protests. Local police soon arrived at the scene, and a significant number of Israel supporters held a counter-protest in the area.
"We aim for dialogue, communication, and coexistence, while the protesters, most of whom have no connection to or knowledge of the conflict, focus on violence and aggressive silencing," Odelia Haroush and Patty Hochman, the film festival’s founders, said in a statement.
"Cancel culture is a popular trend right now, and we don’t intend to give in to it. Learning about a country through cinema is a tool to promote understanding and dialogue, but they aren’t interested in that. One festival attendee, whose family of one of the hostages in Gaza, tried to talk with the protesters, but there was no response or cooperation from them. On the contrary, the protesters continued to shout over her violently,” they added.
"Especially at this time, when efforts are being made to cancel us and challenge our Israeli and Jewish identities, it’s time to stand up to them worldwide, with our heads held high, wearing a Star of David, a hostage pin, and raising the voice of Israeli cinema," said actor Yadin Gellman, a festival guest.