On November 8, during IDFA's opening night, protestors called for a ceasefire, chanting "From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free." Shockingly, IDFA responded by labeling this slogan and the protest as discriminatory, perpetuating dangerous misconceptions of Palestinian freedom, justice, and equality. 

IDFA’s statement, published on the 10th of November, contributes to the longstanding propaganda used to delegitimize the Palestinian struggle for liberation under 75 years of occupation. Our call is clear: dismantle apartheid and all systems of oppression, with an immediate ceasefire in Gaza being our priority. IDFA's statement has made the festival’s diverse community, which consists of many individuals who have struggled in the face of colonialism, feel unsafe and unwelcome. The statement, linked here, goes against universal principles of democracy and freedom of expression for which we all stand.

Join us in highlighting:
We, the undersigned, refuse to align our artistic work with an institute that vilifies any struggle for liberation against colonial oppression. We demand an official apology from the IDFA for vilifying Palestinian voices and narratives and the immediate withdrawal of the statement published by this film festival on the 10th of November. Our demand is rooted in reclaiming our space in a festival that has been a home to many, and one that we have actively contributed to in its pursuit of diversity and justice.