Saturday, April 11, 2009
Good news: Canadian filmmaker John Greyson turns down offer to premiere at the Tel Aviv LGBT film festival
"After much wrestling with these difficult issues, I've come to a decision: I can't show Fig Trees in your festival, and I can't go forward with my proposed film shoot in Israel. Instead, I feel I must join the many Jews and non-Jews, Israelis and Palestinians, queers and otherwise, who are part of the growing global BDS (Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions) movement against Israeli apartheid. I've come to the conclusion that, in this moment, to not take this stand is unthinkable, impossible."
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The Israeli apartheid forum this week, and particularly Naomi Klein’s speech, helped clarify my thoughts. Her words took me back to the BDS movement of the eighties, against South African apartheid, and the first 16mm film I ever made, which was in support of that struggle, clips of which are included in Fig Trees.
ReplyDeleteThe cultural boycott worked in South Africa’s case, and lead directly to the sweeping changes and activism that Fig Trees celebrates in song. Therefore, in the spirit of the film, and those activists, I don’t feel there’s a choice any longer. Like you, I yearn for the morning when this horrendous conflict will end, with a lasting, just peace. I yearn for the afternoon when this growing BDS movement can be declared obsolete, because it’s no longer necessary. I yearn for the evening when we can together attend screenings of Fig Trees and other sexy new queer operas, Palestinian and Israeli, in both Tel Aviv and Ramallah.
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Great fellow! Chapeau bas!
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Now this is a true conscience, queer or otherwise. It is significant because the gay community has suffered much at the hands of ignorant and unduly prejudice people. It has created, clearly in the minds and hearts of many, a distinct and correct sensitivity to the oppressed.
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