KEN LOACH - AMERICAN JEWISH CONGRESS DECRIES FESTIVAL DECISION

AMERICAN JEWISH CONGRESS DECRIES FESTIVAL DECISION

The American Jewish Congress is not satisfied with the outcome of the dispute between the Edinburgh International Film Festival (EIFF) and director Ken Loach. Loach, who has condemned Israel's actions against Lebanon and Gaza, had demanded that the festival return $450 that the Israeli embassy in London had contributed to bring Israeli director Tali Shalom-Ezer to this year's festival to show her romantic film Surrogate . He warned that unless the money was returned, he and other British filmmakers would boycott the festival. On Wednesday, the festival, remarking that Loach spoke "on behalf of the film community," said it would return the funding. That in turn led to cries of censorship by other filmmakers and a subsequent decision by the festival to contribute the $450 out of its own funds. But on Thursday, David Harris, executive director of the AJC, said that the festival's decision "does not detract from the key issue here." Noting that no similar action had been taken in regards to countries engaged in "terrible wars and horrendous human-rights abuses," Harris said, "In refusing money from the Israeli Embassy, the EIFF is effectively supporting discrimination against Israel and Israelis disguised as support for Palestinian rights." For its part, the festival said that it "is well known for bringing together people from all over the world, regardless of race or religion, to screen and appreciate films for their own sake, and we look forward to continuing this important mission."

22/05/2009