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Israeli Seret film festival hits back at boycott calls from Mike Leigh and Ken Loach

The pair are among those calling for cinemas not to take part in the UK-wide festival

April 30, 2019 09:18
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2 min read

Organisers of a Israeli film festival in Britain have hit back at calls for boycott from filmmakers including Ken Loach and Mike Leigh.

In an letter to The Guardian, directors of the Seret festival Anat Koren, Odelia Haroush and Patty Hochmann wrote: “We are surprised that, yet again, there has been a call for a boycott on screening films from Israel here in the UK, from film-makers who believe that they are supporting the 'Palestinian cause'

"Israeli films are distributed globally, and the cinemas they are screened in are delighted and proud to show them to their audiences... we look forward to welcoming film lovers from every community and faith."

They were responding to calls from British filmmakers who called on cinemas to boycott the festival, which takes place this week across six cities in the UK.