After reports that the Stockholm International Film Festival disinvited actress and TV creator Aleeza Chanowitz from a scheduled appearance, the festival's program director says that 'the festival would never remove a film from the program based on 'political reasons'.
Published in Haaretz: https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2023-11-15/ty-article/.premium/stockholm-film-festival-apologizes-extends-invite-to-u-s-israeli-tv-creator/0000018b-d24a-df9a-ab8b-deca7cec0000
The Stockholm International Film Festival denied the claim that it had canceled the invitation to Aleeza Chanowitz, creator of the series “Chanshi,” due to the war between Israel and Hamas. According to reports published on Monday, the festival disinvited Chanowitz from a scheduled appearance, giving various different explanations for the move.
“We’re really sorry, but considering the tragic events and the ongoing conflict, we have decided not to book any flights from Israel at this moment,” was one of the explanations offered by a festival representative last week. Chanowitz said the festival later retracted the cancellation and suggested that she come but pay for the flight herself – an option she rejected out of hand.
In an interview with Haaretz, Beatrice Karlsson, the festival's program director, says that the festival team has been conversing with the team of the series since September, and was planning the visit of Chanowitz and of the series directors, Aaron Geva and Mickey Triest: “After October 7 we stayed in contact and discussed how to move forward. We already offered them a digital Q&A instead but were still open to also invite Aleeza to come in person. Our guest department expressed a concern if it was safe to be traveling in the Israeli airspace at this stage. It was a safety concern.
“The email from us that was quoted in Haaretz [regarding not reserving a flight from Israel] was sent by a temporary staff member without it having been confirmed by the festival and it does not reflect the festival’s official position, which is to support the series and creators. It was not well formulated and we understand how this led to the misunderstanding and are deeply sorry for it.
"The email did not refer to the political situation in any regard. The festival takes pride in presenting films from all over the world and always stands behind the films and the filmmakers and does not take a political stance in the conflict. We appreciate the opportunity to address the significant misunderstanding. We are grateful for the chance to provide clarification in this matter and are deeply sorry that we have hurt people’s feelings.”
If there wasn’t a cancellation, what was the reason of the change of plans? Because there’s absolutely no safety problem in traveling from Israel to Sweden using a connecting flight via a number of European airports.
“We are of course aware of that. The visit had been planned for a long time when the security situation in the region changed, the guest department discussed if it was a security problem to travel and if it was safe. At this time they suggested that a digital Q&A would be a suitable arrangement.
I understand that the event on Thursday is planned and was never canceled and that a Zoom Q&A was discussed as an alternative. Did Geva and Chanowitz agree to this alternative before the cancellation story broke out?
“That is correct, the screening was never canceled. The festival never had any plans for this and would never remove a film from the program based on political reasons. We believe the festival is a platform for art and creativity. We have on several occupations suggested a digital Q&A as this would allow the whole team to present the series for the audience in Stockholm.”
Has SFF received any request to take a stand regarding the war between Israel and Hamas? Was there a request or requests by any Swedish or foreign organizations or individuals to cancel visits of Israeli filmmakers?
“No. And if we would have received such a request it is our official position that we do not take a political stand in this conflict.”
Has it happened in the past that SFF canceled planned visits of filmmakers due to political developments in their countries? For example, were Russian filmmakers uninvited after the war broke out in Ukraine?
“No.”
What’s the current status of the “Chanshi” creators’ visit?
“We never intended to withdraw the series or Aleeza’s participation from the festival, we have offered to invite her in person to the festival. We are of course still happy to arrange a digital Q&A during the screening and have sent both these offers to the [Israeli] team.
“We would once again like to express how proud and grateful we are to present the Swedish premiere of ‘Chanshi’ and think it is a smart, funny and boundary pushing work of art and are very impressed by the whole team and especially by Chanowitz for both having created the series and acting in it. Once again, we are deeply sorry for having caused pain and sorrow.”
Chanowitz said in response that she has spoken with representatives of the festival, who apologized to her, but in the end has decided not to go, one reason being that she didn’t want the screening to turn into a political event. She said that she intends to write a text to be read in the auditorium prior to the screening, and to make do with that.
“I hope that something good will come of it. Maybe other festivals in Europe and worldwide will think twice from now on before rejecting someone Jewish or Israeli, especially at this time. And that they’ll focus on what they’re supposed to be – a cultural event at which artists can feel protected,” she said.
On Monday, after the reports about the cancellation of Chanowitz’s invitation to the festival – and then the retraction of the cancellation if she pays for the flight herself – Chanowitz said: “The festival’s excuse for why they don’t want me to come changed three times, and that makes me feel that they’re not telling me the truth. I think I won’t go in the end because I don’t feel very wanted.”
Chanowitz was supposed to arrive in Stockholm this week before the screening of an installment of her series on Friday as part of the festival program, and to conduct a discussion with the audience. Last week, representatives of the festival reached out to her to explain that due to the war, it was decided to withdraw the decision to host her. They wrote to her, “Now we have to take a stand.”
“I am surprised by the festival’s cowardice, and it really sucks because I wanted to have a nice time at a cultural event where I could take a break from our scary reality and enjoy and discuss art. I also ‘have had to take a stand,” said Chanowitz in response. “I stand with the Jews, Israelis of all kinds, peace with our neighbors, and most of all with the families of the hostages.”
She said that the festival team had contacted her in early October and invited her to come to Sweden to conduct a Q&A with the audience after the screening. Last week, when the date for the screening approached and she wanted to finalize the details of the flight with them, the tone suddenly changed.
The woman in charge of guests on behalf of the festival wrote to her: “I apologize for the delay, there was confusion surrounding this issue. We did our best to circumvent it, but now we have to take a stand, although that’s no fun at all.”
The series “Chanshi” is about an ultra-Orthodox young woman from Brooklyn who comes to Jerusalem before her best friend’s wedding, and during her stay decides to break up with her fiancé who’s waiting for her in New York, immigrate to Israel and to devote herself to her fantasies about affairs with strong and muscular Israeli soldiers. The opening scene of the series presents the main protagonist, played by Chanowitz, making out with an Israeli soldier on top of a tank. As of now, the screening at the Swedish festival is due to go on as planned.
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