Israeli Film Council in Dramatic Step Against Anti-Israeli Film 'Naz'a'

The Israeli Film Council announced an immediate council meeting following the award of the 'Naz'a' film with the Jury Prize in Venice. The council argued that the film crosses a red line and defames IDF soldiers, relying on anonymous interviewees. The meeting will reconsider the scoring for film festivals representing Israel.

The Israeli Film Council announced this morning (Monday) an immediate council meeting following the uproar over the film 'Naz'a' by creators Yuval Abraham and Rachel Shor, which won the Special Jury Prize at the Venice Film Festival last week. The council argued that the film crosses a red line and defames IDF soldiers, relying on anonymous interviewees. The meeting will reconsider the scoring given to film festivals representing the State of Israel worldwide. The council stated that Israel is a democracy that upholds freedom of expression, but the film constitutes a serious defamation of IDF soldiers. It further stated that the council will continue to support quality Israeli cinema but will condemn the exploitation of art to harm the state and its soldiers. The film, which presents a blood libel against IDF fighters in the Gaza Strip, received an exceptional embrace in Venice with 24.5 minutes of applause and the waving of PLO and Lebanese flags in the hall. The decision was made against the backdrop of severe allegations against our fighters on the international stage.