How IDFA Found Itself Overtaken By Events In Israel And Gaza
deadline.comInternational Documentary Festival Amsterdam has long enjoyed a reputation as a politically engaged festival – standing up for artists and speaking out for freedom of expression.
For instance, IDFA forcefully advocated for Ukrainian filmmakers at last year’s event, making no secret of its position on Russia’s unprovoked attack on Ukraine.
But that reputation for taking bold stances on geopolitical issues has put the world’s largest documentary gathering in a very tenuous position in the starkly polarized context of the Israel-Hamas war and the relentless bombing of Gaza.
For IDFA to say nothing about the violence is unthinkable. To say anything at all almost guarantees backlash. IDFA’s attempt to walk a fine line – publicly acknowledging the trauma experienced by Palestinians and Israelis, while trying to avoid injuring feelings with its statements on the issue – has proven virtually impossible to achieve.
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