PrintSeptember 6, 2007
Feminist film festival 'horrified' by Israel boycott
From the official website of the San Diego Feminist Film Festival:
A statement was given by the San Diego Women's Film Festival Director in support of the Boycott of Israeli films. The San Diego Women Film Foundation and Festival would like to apologize to all in the community -- we are embarrassed and horrified to learn such a position was taken without our knowledge or consent. It is the personal view of the Festival Director and not the view of the San Diego Women Film Foundation and we in no way support, sponsor or condone their statements. Furthermore, the mission of the San Diego Women Film Foundation is to empower, promote and mentor young women and women filmmakers by developing opportunities to expose the art of filmmaking and to tell women's stories to broad and diverse audiences. We do not promote or take a position with any political or religious issues.
For the record, the San Diego Women Film Foundation and Festival is NOT boycotting Israeli films. We are hopeful that filmmakers from the Israeli community will continue to submit films. Actions regarding the Festival Director will be dealt with internally. Again, our deepest and most sincere apologies
-- San Diego Women Film Foundation Board of Directors
The board is to be commended for this forthtright rejection. But if the festival director, whose actions "embarrassed and horrified" the board of directors, has been fired or disciplined in any way, there is no indication of it on the website.
The American Jewish Committee (AJC) originally brought the matter to the attention of the feminist film festival, and writes on its website:
AJC had expressed deep concern about the recent decision of the Film Festival Director to exclude Israeli films from the festival, which opens October 4. "The decision to boycott films from the State of Israel was completely antithetical to the fundamental mission of the San Diego Women's Film Festival," Parzen said.
Hat tip: Dave Berman
