When we established the Israel Film Center at the Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan, our mission was to raise awareness of Israeli films in the U.S. After fifteen years, we felt we had achieved it. Israeli films were everywhere. But today, we find ourselves back at square one. Not only are Israeli films absent from many screens, but institutions that present them are also being shamed and boycotted. These voices are essential for cultural progress and collaboration between Palestinians and Israelis and must be heard.

Recently, nearly 4,000 film professionals signed a pledge to boycott Israeli cinema, including institutions that present Israeli films. For an industry already struggling in the wake of October 7, this was another heavy blow. Before then, Israeli films regularly appeared at major festivals and were distributed worldwide. Many were co-funded by European and international film funds, with fruitful collaborations across borders. Today, those partnerships have largely dissolved, and Israeli films are increasingly absent from global screens. Festivals worldwide have either........

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