International Documentary Festival Amsterdam (IDFA) has apologised for the “hurtful slogan” displayed by activists in a surprise protest during its opening night ceremony last night (Thursday, November 9).
During a speech by IDFA artistic director Orwa Nyrabia, three activists took to the stage holding a sign with the words ‘From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free’.
Israeli news website Haaretz has reported that members of the audience applauded the action, with Nyrabia joining that applause. However, as part of a festival statement today, Nyrabia has said he did not see the slogan, and was clapping “to welcome freedom of speech”.
The slogan has become a rallying cry of pro-Palestinian protests during the ongoing Israel-Hamas war in which over 200 Israeli and international hostages are still being held in Gaza by Hamas, over a month on. But it is a contentious phrase considered antisemitic by some, a call for an independent Palestinian state by others.
The festival has today issued a 600-word statement regarding the disruption, saying: “That slogan does not represent us, and we do not endorse it in any way. We are truly sorry that it was hurtful to many.
“It was a difficult journey towards the opening night. Like every other cultural institution, IDFA is trying to be respectful and useful and that is not easy within the current political climate,” continued the statement.
“We sincerely opted for an approach that is open, that respects everybody, every pain, and provides a safe platform for all voices. It is a difficult and a risky approach, and it does not make any side particularly happy with us. But, we believe in this position being necessary, being the role and the true meaning of a documentary film festival.”
In Nyrabia’s part of the statement, he says he spoke about this “open position” during the ceremony.
“As I was moving to the next part of the event, I heard chants from the balcony, and people took the stage. The slogan written on the banner held by the young protesters, which later was reported as very visible to the audience but not to me on stage, is a triggering statement and an offensive declaration for many, regardless of who carries it,” wrote Nyrabia.
“It does not represent IDFA, and was and will not be endorsed. I apologise for not paying attention to the banner in the moment. I clapped to welcome freedom of speech, and not to welcome the slogan. I only learned about the slogan on the banner from the team as I went backstage when the opening film started.”
Earlier on Friday – prior to the IDFA statement – 16 leading figures from the Israeli film industry signed an open letter expressing “our uttermost dismay, disappointment and concern” at the protest. The Israeli letter repeats the claim from Haaretz that the artistic director was “applauding and cheering the protestors on” – denied by Nyrabia [above]. It also criticises a festival report on the opening ceremony, which mentioned the protest.
“Nyrabia’s muted and pale official response to the event further iterates that he is fully aware of the horrific meaning of this slogan, the hate it mongers and the antisemitism it invokes,” reads the letter. “We see this as a personal attack against us, as citizens of the land you called to eliminate and your public support as incitement that can cost lives.”
It calls on Nyrabia and the IDFA board of directors “to clearly and resoundingly distance themselves, reject and denounce these calls for violence”, and to “withdraw any platform for those who knowingly incite for the annihilation of Israel”.
Signatories to the letter include Assaf Amir, chairman of the Israeli Film Academy; Roni Mahadav-Levin, CEO of Jerusalem Film Festival; Limor Pinhasov, chairwoman of the Israel Directors Guild; and Adar Shafran, chairman of the Israeli Producers Union.
IDFA published its opening night report first, followed by the Israeli industry letter criticising that report; with the IDFA statement apologising for the slogan coming after that.
Israeli letter in full:
November 10, 2023
To IDFA team, board of directors and the int’l film industry
On behalf of the documentary and film community in Israel we are reaching out to express our uttermost dismay, disappointment and concern by the event that occurred during the opening ceremony of IDFA on November 8th.
Allowing and applauding a sign which states that “From River to the Sea Palestine will be Free“ is a call for the eradication of Israel, the Jewish homeland and of Jews in general. Applauding and cheering the protesters on, was the festival’s director, Mr. Orwa Nyrabia, which allows us to believe that this is IDFA‘s official and reprehensible stance towards Israel and towards Jews .
These are undeniably terrible times for the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip who are suffering daily, as they are for the citizens of Israel, in the wake of the atrocities carried out by Hamas on October 7th, and for the 240 hostages who are still being held by the terror organization.
We are at a crucial and critical time in history and words matter- Nyrabia’s muted and pale official response to the event ”IDFA… distances itself from the slogan stated on the activists’ canvas” further iterates that he is fully aware of the horrific meaning of this slogan, the hate it mongers and the antisemitism it invokes.
We see this as a personal attack against us, as citizens of the land you called to eliminate and your public support as incitement that can cost lives.
We expect and implore the festival to support a humanitarian solution and show empathy- rather than to give a stage to antisemitic sentiment and extremist ideology which only deepens hatred and polarization.
As an industry, and as a people, we have always championed and excelled at showcasing a wide variety of voices, opinions and perspectives in our works - but we are united in our stance that this event should be condemned. We call on the director of IDFA, and on its board of directors to clearly and resoundingly distance themselves, reject and denounce these calls for violence - and withdraw any platform for those who knowingly incite for the annihilation of Israel , instigating violence and giving rise to antisemitic sentiments against Jews everywhere.
Signed on behalf of the Israeli film community:
IDFA runs from November 8-19.
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