For IDFA to say nothing about the violence is unthinkable.
To say anything at all almost guarantees backlash.
Complicating matters, Nyrabia (a Syrian-born filmmaker) applauded the protesters on stage.
International Documentary Festival AmsterdamIDFA
I apologize for not paying attention to the banner in the moment, Nyrabia wrote.
I clapped to welcome freedom of speech, and not to welcome the slogan.
It does not represent IDFA, and was and will not be endorsed.
Artistic DirectorOrwa Nyrabiaat IDFA’s opening night ceremony.IDFA/Coen Dijkstra
But that apology quickly met with sharp disapproval from many Palestinian filmmakers.
In both letters, the pronoun we is invoked to express the position of the organization as a whole.
We share the belief that this violence can no longer be called by any other word than genocide.
The last month has seen a huge scale of violence, and a grave humanitarian crisis.
These films told us repeatedly that violence breeds violence.
IDFA is about giving the stage to outstanding artists to be critical and free.
IDFA is an open platform and not a censor.
Our hope is that everybody feels entitled to use this platform, seriously and responsibly, lovingly and sincerely.
Palestinian filmmaker Mohamed Jabaly, who lives in Gaza, chose not to withdraw his filmLife Is Beautifulfrom IDFA.
What is the difference between me and any kind of other human being in Ukraine?
Why are we not seen and perceived in the same way?
Jabaly took part in a demonstration on Monday at the festivals hub, the Internationaal Theater Amsterdam.
So many words and he said none of them, none of them.
You have no idea how hurtful that was.
And we threw out our banners and we chanted, Ceasefire now!
and we got booed in the room.
When are they going to call for a ceasefire?
How they respond to the devastating events in Gaza and Israel will be scrutinized with the greatest care.
