Israeli Filmmakers Warn an Industry Boycott Will Hurt Dissidents

Last week, nearly 4,000 entertainment industry names, including Hollywood stars like Emma Stone and Joaquin Phoenix, signed a petition calling for a boycott of Israeli film institutions “complicit in war crimes” in Gaza. At last night’s Emmy Awards, Javier Bardem called for a “commercial and diplomatic blockade and sanctions on Israel.” Yet, many of the members of the country’s left-leaning film and TV industry are rooting for peace and standing against the Israeli government at their own risk.

On Tuesday, the Israeli Academy of Film and Television — which brings together nearly 1,100 filmmakers, producers and actors — is expected to submit “The Sea,” a heart-wrenching drama about a Palestinian boy who risks his life to go to the beach for the first time in Tel Aviv, for the Oscars international feature film race. “The Sea” is one of several fiercely anti-war films shortlisted, alongside Nadav Lapid‘s “Yes” and Netalie’s “Oxygen,” which were supported by Israel Film Fund.

That body, which stands as the country’s primary source of financing for Israeli and Palestinian films, is threatened by the boycott because it’s a public fund — even though it operates independently from the government. It has a long legacy of supporting films from liberal voices, such as Ari Folman’s “Waltz With Bashir,” Samuel Maoz’s “Lebanon” and most recently “Yes,” which world premiered at Cannes Directors’ Fortnight and was described by Variety critic Guy Lodge as a “blistering attack on Israeli nationalism.”

“Festivals and funds face political pressure,” says Eliran Elya, an Israeli filmmaker who chairs the Israeli Directors Guild. “But they’ve maintained impressive creative independence, and continued to support works that are critical of the establishment.”

Under the local film law voted on more than 25 years ago, grants from the Israel Film Fund are allocated to filmmakers…