British film director calls for cultural boycott of Israel

LONDON (EJP)--- Prominent British film director Ken Loach has called for a boycott of state-sponsored Israeli cultural institutions in response to Israel’s actions in Lebanon, and has encouraged others to follow suit.

The 69-year-old winner of this year’s Palme d’Or award at the Cannes Film Festival has also refused an invite to attend this year’s Haifa Film Festival in protest against Israel’s actions during the recent hostilities in Lebanon.

He said: “I support the call by Palestinian film-makers, artists and others to boycott state sponsored Israeli cultural institutions and urge others to join their campaign.

“Palestinians are driven to call for this boycott after 40 years of the occupation of their land, destruction of their homes and the kidnapping and murder of their civilians. They have no immediate hope that this oppression will end.”

As a result, he has declined an invitation to attend the Haifa International Film Festival in October saying: “It is impossible to ignore the appeals of Palestinian comrades. Consequently, I would decline any invitation to the Haifa Film Festival or other such occasions.”

Socialist worker

Loach, a member of the Socialist Workers Party and the National Council of George Galloway’s Respect Party, also condemned the British and US governments for supporting Israel.

“As British citizens we have to acknowledge our own responsibility. We must condemn the British and US governments for supporting and arming Israel. We must also oppose the terrorist activities of the British and US governments in pursuing their illegal wars and occupations.”

The Cannes Film Festival award was for his latest film, The Wind that Shakes the Barley, about the struggle for Irish independence, which some critics have labelled as anti-British.

In response, the British film director Josh Appignanesi, who directed the Jewish film Song of Songs, said: “The suffering that Israel has in one way or another inflicted on the Palestinians is completely unacceptable and the current situation in the territories is a political and humanitarian scandal that must be brought to an end. The disgusting recent war with Hizbollah has taken a shocking and entirely unnecessary human toll.”

However he continued: “But it is precisely at such times that we need to remain cool-headed and clear in our response. So it was with some disappointment but no great surprise that I heard that Ken Loach, a filmmaking institution in himself, has added his voice to calls to boycott state-sponsored Israeli cultural institutions. His letter is far from clear about what the boycott hopes to achieve and why he is asking us to sign up to it.”

He added: “One can only wonder why the world is being asked to rally to boycott Israel in lieu of say, Turkey, Iran, Zimbabwe and China. Perhaps those nations have been around long enough to be able to trample human rights constantly without their existence being drawn into question?

“Strange that the concerned Western Left, in which I would like to include myself, can trust itself to distinguish between creator, creation, specific institution and regime in these other cases, but not in that of Israel or is there something else at play?”

Other festivals targeted

Last month the Edinburgh International Film Festival returned a donation from the Israeli Embassy after pro-Palestinian activists inundated the organisers with mail and phone calls and threatened to demonstrate at the event.

The Irish Film Festival also cancelled its sponsorship arrangement with the Israeli Embassy in Dublin, for the screening of an Israeli film at the festival in August, following Israel’s actions in Lebanon.

Mark Mulqueen, the director of the Irish Film Institute, said in a statement: “The decision is taken in light of the current activities of the Israeli government and prompted by the performance of your ambassador in explaining these acts to the Irish public. It is important for us to separate the screening of an Israeli feature film from activities of the Israeli government. In allowing the screening to go ahead, this is not an act of artistic censorship, something we would be loath to do.”

I see that he also contributed a piece to the French anthology film on 9-11 (which included one anti-American segment). Boycotting his library of work will be easy as I haven't seen any of it and only recognize 2 films in his entire filmography (which stretches back 45 years).

Ken Loach

Director - filmography
(In Production) (2000s) (1990s) (1980s) (1970s) (1960s)

These Times (2007) (pre-production)
The Wind That Shakes the Barley (2006)
... aka Vent se lève, Le (France)
... aka Viento que agita la cebada, El (Spain)
McLibel (2005) (re-enactments)
Tickets (2005)
Fond Kiss..., Ae (2004)
... aka Bacio appassionato, Un (Italy)
... aka Beso, Un (Spain)
... aka Just a Kiss (Europe: English title)
... aka Sólo un beso (Spain)
11'09''01 - September 11 (2002) (segment "United Kingdom")
... aka 11 minutes 9 secondes 1 image (France)
... aka 11 septembre 2001 (Iran: Farsi title)
... aka 11'09''01: Onze minutes, neuf secondes, un cadre (France)
... aka Eleven Minutes, Nine Seconds, One Image: September 11 (International: English title)
... aka Onze minutes, neuf secondes, un cadre (France)
... aka September 11 (USA)
Sweet Sixteen (2002/I)
... aka Felices dieciseis (Spain)
... aka Sweet Sixteen (Spain)
The Navigators (2001)
... aka Cuadrilla, La (Spain)
Bread and Roses (2000)
... aka Bread and Roses (France)
... aka Pan y rosas (Spain)

My Name Is Joe (1998)
... aka Mein Name ist Joe (Germany)
... aka Mi nombre es Joe (Spain)
... aka My Name Is Joe (France)
McLibel (1998) (re-enactments)
The Flickering Flame (1997)
Carla's Song (1996)
... aka Canción de Carla, La (Spain)
Land and Freedom (1995)
... aka Terra e libertà (Italy)
... aka Tierra y libertad (Spain)
A Contemporary Case for Common Ownership (1995)
... aka Clause IV: The Movie (UK)
Ladybird Ladybird (1994)
Raining Stones (1993)
Hidden Agenda (1990)
Riff-Raff (1990)

The View from the Woodpile (1989) (TV)
... aka The Eleventh Hour: The View from the Woodpile (UK: series title)
Fatherland (1986)
... aka Singing the Blues in Red (USA)
... aka Vaterland (West Germany)
Which Side Are You On? (1984)
The Red and the Blue: Impressions of Two Political Conferences - Autumn 1982 (1983) (TV)
Questions of Leadership (1983) (TV)
... aka Problems of Democracy in Trade Unions: Some Views from the Frontline
Looks and Smiles (1981) (as Kenneth Loach)
A Question of Leadership (1981) (TV)
Auditions (1980) (TV)
The Gamekeeper (1980)

Black Jack (1979)
"Play for Today"
- The Price of Coal: Part 2 (1977) TV Episode
- The Price of Coal: Part 1 (1977) TV Episode
- The Rank and File (1971) TV Episode
"Days of Hope" (1975) (mini) TV Series
A Misfortune (1973) (TV)
Family Life (1971/I) (as Kenneth Loach)
... aka Wednesday's Child
After a Lifetime (1971) (TV)
The Save the Children Fund Film (1971)
... aka In Black and White

"The Wednesday Play"
- The Big Flame (1969) TV Episode
- The Golden Vision (1968) TV Episode
- In Two Minds (1967) TV Episode
- Cathy Come Home (1966) TV Episode (as Kenneth Loach)
- The Coming Out Party (1965) TV Episode
(4 more)
Kes (1969) (as Kenneth Loach)
The Golden Vision (1968) (TV)
Poor Cow (1967)
Wear a Very Big Hat (1965) (TV)
Diary of a Young Man (1964) (TV)
"Z Cars" (1962) TV Series

I'm waiting for the Hollywood left to denounce his antisemitism and his support of terrorist attacks launched from Lebanon with the wink and a nod from the Lebanese government (there should have been ZERO tolerance for rockets being launched).

"The 69-year-old winner of this year’s Palme d’Or award at the Cannes Film Festival"

If recent history has shown us anything, the Academy will probably honor him with an Oscar nomination just as they honored Hitler's filmmaker, Leni Riefenstahl, on the year of her death. And NO she didn't have to become Hitler's propagandist. Fritz Lang could've had the job and fled Nazi Germany. If you opposed the regime, don't do such a "good job" making them look so powerful and superior.

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