
After a concerted national campaign – The NFDC / NMIC, Mumbai HQ, called off the Israel Film Festival slated to be held in Mumbai on the 21st-22nd of August. India Palestine Solidarity Forum had organised a signature campaign, which went viral and got endorsements from over thousands of people, with more than 200 from the artist fraternity itself. People from all walks of life in India and abroad signed the petition.
Feroze Mithiborwala National General Secretary of India Palestine Solidarity Forum said they will be taking up this issue with the NFDC-NMIC management, and a delegation will soon meet them.
He said that the very fact that the NFDC/NMIC had decided to organise an “Israel Film Festival” – was shocking in itself. Moreso, when the ICJ, the ICC, the overwhelming majority of the world is condemning Israel for its War Crimes, for the ongoing Holocaust in Gaza, and then the NMIC deems it appropriate to organise an Israel Film Festival.
The petition stated that the people of India stand utterly shocked and dismayed at the fact that as per its Instagram post, as well as the National Museum of Indian Cinema (NMIC) Twitter handle, the. National Film Development Corporation (NFDC) is organising a Film Festival to showcase Israeli films.
The petition further said that the screening by the NFDC 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 genocide is occurring live, in real time, and the entire world is witness to this inhuman criminal monstrosity, as we watch aghast on our mobiles and TV screens.
The management of the NFDC & the NMIC should be aware of the fact that the Government of India has consistently voted for a ceasefire, as well has recognised the Palestinian state, as have the overwhelming majority of the nations. Thus, at this moment in our collective human history, for the NFDC and the NMIC to be screening Israeli films is totally immoral, unethical, unconscionable, and a travesty of justice to say the least.
In keeping with the Indian tradition of supporting anti-colonial liberation struggles, we, as a nation, have always stood with Palestine, and here too the NFDC & the NMIC stand in utter violation of the very spirit of India, the India of Buddha & Gandhi.