In response to Miami Strand Mayor Steven Meiner sets legislation to terminate the lease agreement for the O -cinema to screen Oscar-winning Palestinian/Israeli documentary ”No other country“Art House Convergence and International Documentary Association has issued a statement and describes these measures as” seriously. “
The statement reads: “Programming decisions from Independent film Exhibitors must not suffer political involvement in the form of violations of first changes. It is double that the documentary “No other country”, which has been criticized by the highest levels in the global film industry, including an Oscar and four prices on 2024 Ida Documentary Awardshas triggered such a censuric response. Threats to the Defined Cinemas and Film Festivals based on their programmatic content go directly to the right to freedom of expression for art, artists and exhibitors as a whole. If these threats are performed, it is not only filmmakers but also audiences that will be affected. ”
As previously reported by Miami New Timesin one newsletter Sent by Meiner, he called the documentary “A false unilateral propaganda attack on the Jewish people that is not compatible with the values in our city and inhabitants.” However, the film was made by a consortium of Palestinian and Jewish Israeli filmmakers, including Basel Adra and Yuval Abraham.
In a separate statement, Pen America’s Florida director, Katie Blankenship, said about the situation, “this effort to censor movies is beyond the pale of acceptable state actions in a democracy and is obviously unconstitutional. Politicians are not allowed to tell theaters which movies they can show just because they disagree with a movie’s message. Cultural spaces must be free to make their own choice of what to present to the audience, without political involvement. Threatening the lease agreement by O -Bio will not only affect this film; It will deny the audience in southern Florida the opportunity to access a number of films and programs on different topics. “
The CEO of the Artists at the Risk Association, Julie Trébault, added, “This attempt to silence artistic expression is dangerous overreaction that undermines democracy, threatens cultural institutions and robs the audience of their right to make their own choices. This is not just about a Film, it is about protecting society’s right to get involved in art as issues, criticizing and imagining a better future. We must fight against escalating attacks against creative, political and intellectual freedom and ensure that artistic expression remains freely, fearless and uncompromising. ”
With No Official US Distribution“No Other Land” has relied on Cinetic Media for individual bookings throughout the country. Views for “No Other Land” at O Cinema was originally interrupted, with CEO Vivian Marthell Write to the mayor on March 6 that she had decided to “withdraw the film” because of “concern for anti -Semitic rhetoric.” However, the theater changed the course last week and chose to showcase the film, with additional views set for March 19 and 20 as well. However, Meiner’s actions can increase these plans.
Read the entire joint statement from Art House Convergens and Ida below.
As a representative of the Art House Convergence and International Documentary Association (Ida), we find the threat that Miami Beach has done to draw the funding and lease for O Cinema seriously. Programming decisions from independent film exhibitors must not suffer political involvement in the form of violations of first changes. It is double that the documentary no other country, which has been criticized by the highest levels in the global film industry, including an Oscar and four prices at the Ida Documentary Awards 2024, has triggered such a censuric response. Threats to the Defined Cinemas and Film Festivals based on their programmatic content go directly to the right to freedom of expression for art, artists and exhibitors as a whole. If these threats are performed, it is not only filmmakers but also audiences that will be affected.
Art House theaters play a critical role in our society as an important space for free expression. They are cultural institutions where different ideas, perspectives and creative visions give audiences and communities the opportunity to participate in civil discourse on important social, political and cultural issues. It is in spaces in Art House Cinemas that we as a society have the chance to reflect, debate and challenge each other in meaningful and generative ways. O Cinema’s lease from the government illustrates exactly the value of independent cinemas such as public spaces, which is reflected in the many other cultural institutions in this country that work in state -owned spaces. Threatening the presence of their programming, or limiting access to films based on unnecessary political influence or external pressure, undermines the very essence of freedom of speech on which the United States was based.
To suppress content not only denies the audience access to indispensable works, it normalizes resistance to – and even violence against – those with opposite views, rather than creating a safe space to explore areas for collective agreements.
It is imperative to protect the first amendment rights for art house biographers and the communities they earn, which ensures that they remain a sanctuary for thought -provoking, cross -border content that reflects the needs of our society. Allowing the decision to close O Cinema Stand is a direct violation of US basic value for freedom of expression, the constitutional rights that our democracy provides and the commitment that public officials have done to serve their constituents and their societies.
