The Crossbill News Desk
Following criticism, backlash, and an online campaign against the National Film Development Corporation of India's (NFDC) decision to hold the Israel Film Festival in Mumbai, the corporation was ultimately compelled to cancel the event.
The festival, set for August 21 and 22 at the National Museum of Indian Cinema (NMIC) in Mumbai, was cancelled following a joint statement from over a thousand artists, activists, and concerned citizens. This campaign was organized by the India Palestine Solidarity Forum, an informal group committed to raising awareness about the current situation in Gaza.
In a joint statement, the group said, “This screening by the NFDC [National Film Development Corporation] is shamefully being held at a time, when the entire world is witness to Israeli war crimes, the ongoing Holocaust and the genocide in Gaza, and across all of Palestine.”
The statement was signed by notable individuals including actors Naseeruddin Shah and Ratna Pathak, freedom fighter GG Parikh, documentary filmmaker Anand Patwardhan, and Tushar Gandhi, the great-grandson of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi.
Firoze Mithibirewala, who leads the India Palestine Solidarity Forum, stated: “The NFDC cancelled the Israel Film Festival following a concerted public campaign.”
An official from the NMIC, speaking to Arab News on the condition of anonymity, confirmed that the festival “has been pulled down,” but declined to offer further details.
CPI(M) Polit Bureau member Subhashini Ali, one of the organizers of the signature campaign, also confirmed that the festival had been cancelled.
The festival, set for August 21 and 22 at the National Museum of Indian Cinema (NMIC) in Mumbai, was cancelled following a joint statement from over a thousand artists, activists, and concerned citizens. This campaign was organized by the India Palestine Solidarity Forum, an informal group committed to raising awareness about the current situation in Gaza.
In a joint statement, the group said, “This screening by the NFDC [National Film Development Corporation] is shamefully being held at a time, when the entire world is witness to Israeli war crimes, the ongoing Holocaust and the genocide in Gaza, and across all of Palestine.”
The statement was signed by notable individuals including actors Naseeruddin Shah and Ratna Pathak, freedom fighter GG Parikh, documentary filmmaker Anand Patwardhan, and Tushar Gandhi, the great-grandson of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi.
Firoze Mithibirewala, who leads the India Palestine Solidarity Forum, stated: “The NFDC cancelled the Israel Film Festival following a concerted public campaign.”
An official from the NMIC, speaking to Arab News on the condition of anonymity, confirmed that the festival “has been pulled down,” but declined to offer further details.
CPI(M) Polit Bureau member Subhashini Ali, one of the organizers of the signature campaign, also confirmed that the festival had been cancelled.
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