Due to the controversy over her disinvitation, the Stockholm International Film Festival, which boycotted Israeli creator Aliza Hanovitch, creator and star of the series Hanshi, responded to her appeals: “You’re invited to come if you pay for the flight yourself.”
Aliza responded: “The excuse of the festival for why they don’t want me to come changed three times, and it made me feel that they’re not telling me the truth. I think that I won’t go in the end because I don’t feel all that wanted. I also wanted to buy a new sweater – instead, I’ll buy in Israel and support our economy.”
The story began when the Stockholm International Film Festival, held at this time every year in Sweden, chose to include the Israeli series Hanshi, created by Aliza Hanovitch for the HOT company, and which accompanies an American religious woman who lands in Israel. Hanovitch, who also stars in the series, was supposed to come to the festival but due to the war in Israel, they decided to cancel her participation.
Stockholm Festival: “Aliza Hanovitch will end up in an unpleasant situation”
Although the series she created will be played at the festival, its organizers rescinded Hanovitch’s participation on the grounds that “the festival is forced to take a position.” The official reason for the festival’s cancellation decision, taken less than a week before the airing of the show, is that “the instructions of the Swedish Foreign Ministry advise great care towards flights from Israel” and that “there is a fear that an ‘unpleasant’ situation will be created for Aliza.” Hanovitch’s efforts to find a solution, including insisting to organizers that flights are going to and from Europe and Israel without a hitch, were met with unequivocal refusal.
The report of the cancellation of an Israeli’s participation comes after a sign being waved last Friday calling “from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” on the stage of a documentary film festival in Amsterdam, to the cheering of the large audience there.
HOT: “An unfortunate decision”
The HOT media company stated: “The unfortunate decision to boycott the star and creator of Hanshi is a surrender to fear, terror, and violence. We are pained that the festival meant to be a home for art and pluralism serves as a tool for a murderous terror organization which massacred innocent elderly, children, women, and men – just because they are Jews. We call on all participants in the festival to avoid coming until it publishes an official apology.”
Response of Aliza Hanovitch, Creator of Hanshi: “I am surprised by the cowardice of the festival, and it bums me out because I expected to spend time at a cultural event where I could take a break from our scary reality and talk about art. I am also forced to ‘take a position,’ and I stand with the Jews and I support Israel, peace with our neighbors, and I mostly stand with the families of the hostages.”