Israeli Film Leaders Push Back Against International Boycott

The Israeli film and television community is pushing back against a fast-growing international boycott, calling the campaign “counterproductive” and harmful to the very voices working to critique the government and amplify Palestinian perspectives.

On September 8, more than 1,000 industry figures pledged not to collaborate with Israeli institutions they accuse of being “implicated in genocide and apartheid against the Palestinian people.” Within two days, the list of signatories grew to nearly 4,000, including Oscar winners Joaquin Phoenix, Emma Stone and Tilda Swinton, as well as directors Ava DuVernay and Yorgos Lanthimos.

In response, Israeli screenwriters, directors and producers argue the boycott undermines creators who have long used their work to reflect the complexities of the conflict. “For decades, Israeli creators have devoted our work to reflecting the complexity of our reality,” said Nadav Ben Simon, chair of the Israeli Screenwriters’ Guild. “In times like these, we must amplify light, not deepen darkness.”

Merav Etrog Bar of the Directors Guild of Israel and Lior Elefant of Israel’s Documentary Forum stressed that countless Israeli films and series have treated the Palestinian issue with fairness and critical thought. “We find ourselves caught between a rock and a hard place: silencing from within, and boycotts from abroad,” they wrote.

Tzvi Gottlieb, head of the Israeli Film & TV Producers Association, warned that isolating Israeli artists only strengthens the government they oppose. “This industry has been among the most critical of the government and most committed to anti-violence,” he said. “We need support, not punishment.”

The boycott targets Israeli festivals, broadcasters and production houses, some of which receive state funding. But filmmakers argue that government-backed institutions often enable critical art. Liat Benasuly, a producer of Fauda, called the boycott “tragic,” saying it risks silencing progressive Israeli voices. “This just helps the government, which would prefer we were silent, too.”