In the Wake of the War: An International Film Festival Boycotts the Israeli Filmmaker

The Stockholm International Film Festival, which is currently taking place in Sweden, has chosen to include the Israeli series "Chanshi" created by Aliza Hanovich in HOT, which follows the journey of a religious woman from America who lands in Israel. Hanovitch, who created the series and also stars in it as the main character, was supposed to come to the festival, but now following the war in Israel, the production decided to cancel the participation of the Israeli creator.

Although the series she created will be screened at the festival, the organizers of the event removed Hanovitch's participation on the grounds that "the festival had to take a stand." The official reason presented by the festival's management for the cancellation, less than a week before the festive screening event, is that "the instructions of the Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs instruct to exercise caution towards flights from Israel" and that "there is a fear that an 'unpleasant' situation will arise for Aliza." Hanovitch's attempts to find a solution, in which she also insisted to the organizers that flights depart as usual from Israel to Europe and vice versa, were met with an unequivocal refusal.

The news of the cancellation of the participation of the Israeli representative comes after last Friday a sign supporting the reading "From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free" was raised on the stage of a documentary film festival in Amsterdam, in front of the applause of the audience, including the director of the festival.

HOT said: "The unfortunate decision to boycott the star and creator of Chanshi is a surrender to fear, fear mongering and violence. We are sorry that the festival that was supposed to be a home for art and pluralism is being used as an instrument for a murderous terrorist organization that massacred innocent elders, children, women and men - just because they are Jewish. We call on all participants in the festival to refrain from coming until an official apology is published."

The response of Aliza Hanovitch, creator of "Chanshi": "I am surprised by the cowardice of the festival, and it upsets me because I expected to spend time at a cultural event where I could take a break from our scary reality and have fun and talk about art. I too 'have to take a stand', and I stand with the Jews, and I support Israel, peace with our neighbors, and above all I stand with the families of the abductees."