Strong opposition from actors and activists forces NFDC to cancel the event
Team Clarion
NEW DELHI – The National Film Development Corporation of India (NFDC) has called off the Israel Film Festival, originally scheduled for August 21 and 22 at the National Museum of Indian Cinema (NMIC) in Mumbai. The decision came in response to a wave of public opposition, including a joint online signature campaign led by prominent actors, activists, and organisations.
The campaign, organised by the India-Palestinian Solidarity Forum, aimed to draw attention to the ongoing genocide in Gaza. The forum was joined by well-known figures such as actors Naseeruddin Shah and Ratna Pathak, documentary filmmaker Anand Patwardhan, Gandhiji’s great-grandson Tushar Gandhi, and activist Feroze Mithiborwala.
In a joint statement, the forum expressed its strong disapproval of the event. “The screening of Israeli films … is being held in a shameful manner at a time when the whole world is witnessing Israel’s war crimes in Palestine, a witness to genocide and holocaust.” The statement further criticised the NFDC and NMIC, arguing that hosting the festival would be “an immoral, inhuman and unconscionable act and a mockery of justice.”
The forum also highlighted the Indian government’s historical support for the establishment of a Palestinian state, suggesting that hosting an Israeli film festival would contradict this stance. “The International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court have recognised that Israel is guilty of genocide,” the statement continued, adding that NFDC should consider these findings.
The campaign underscored the heavy toll of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, noting that “so far more than 40,000 Palestinians have been killed and over 92,000 injured as a result of Israeli aggression.” The statement also pointed out the significant displacement of the Palestinian population due to the ongoing violence.
Following the outcry, the NFDC decided to cancel the festival, a move that has been met with approval from the campaigners. The cancellation reflects the growing sensitivity towards the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the increasing pressure on institutions to align their actions with global humanitarian concerns.
