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The Indo Cine Appreciation Foundation (ICAF) is facing growing backlash over its decision to host an Israeli film festival in Chennai, with writers’ groups, politicians, and activists calling the move politically insensitive amid Israel’s ongoing military campaign in Gaza. Politicians, including MP Sasikanth Senthil and Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) state president Nellai Mubarak have urged ICAF to cancel the festival and called on the Tamil Nadu government to intervene. When contacted by TNM, ICAF director Thangaraj stated that a meeting would be convened soon to discuss the concerns and determine the festival’s future.
The festival is scheduled to be held at the Tamil Nadu Government Music College from May 29 to May 31, 2025.
On May 26, TNPWAA released a statement, urging ICAF to cancel the festival, calling it politically insensitive at the time of Israel’s ongoing assault on Palestine.
“At a time when governments and civil society across the world are condemning the Israeli government for its military actions, which have resulted in the deaths of Palestinians and the occupation of their land, it is inappropriate to hold an Israeli film festival in a state like Tamil Nadu which having a long-standing commitment to support the rights of the Palestinian people,” the association said.
Madukkur Ramalingam, state president of TNPWAA, told TNM, “The Tamil Nadu government has previously conducted such film festivals. However, at a time when Israel is committing genocide, screening their films is inappropriate. It leads to recognizing Israel’s actions and would be an injustice to Palestinian civilians. If the government does not cancel the event, we will organize a protest."
The Israeli film festival 2025 would screen five films: Here We are (2020), Real Estate (2020), The City (2023), The Milky Way (2023) and Closed Circuit (2022).
Israeli airstrikes in Gaza have resulted in over 1,042 deaths, including 200 children. The two-year conflict has resulted in more than 49,500 deaths and displaced approximately 90% of Gaza's population. The most recent ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, reached in January 2025, was intended to end 15 months of intense conflict in Gaza.
However, the ceasefire collapsed in March 2025 when Israel launched extensive airstrikes on Gaza, citing Hamas's refusal to release hostages as the trigger. Since then, hostilities have resumed, with Israeli airstrikes continuing and significant civilian casualties reported.
Aadhavan Dheetchanya, general secretary of TNPWAA, said, "Israel is a country that was artificially created by capturing neighboring lands. At a time when India is reconsidering its relationship with Israel, it is not appropriate for Tamil Nadu to host an Israeli film festival.”
The statement also criticised ICAF for equating Israel with other nations by including it as part of the Chennai International Film Festival. They argued that hosting an Israeli festival, especially with support from the Tamil Nadu government, would normalise Israel’s actions and lend legitimacy to “a regime that stands accused of war crimes and should be isolated by the international community”.
The writers' association has called on ICAF to voluntarily cancel the event and urged the Tamil Nadu government to step in and stop the festival.
Tiruvallur MP and Congress leader Sasikanth Senthil has also urged the Tamil Nadu government to reconsider hosting the festival.“This is not a rejection of art. It is a call to be mindful of context, of timing, and of the moral message we send as a society. Let us stand, symbolically, but unequivocally, on the side of humanity”, he said.
https://x.com/s_kanth/status/1926869619291099564
SDPI president Nellai Mubarak has also urged a ban on the film festival.
It is to be noted that the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC) cancelled the Israeli Film Festival that was scheduled to take place at the National Museum of Indian Cinema (NMIC) in Mumbai on August 21 and 22, 2024, after a significant public outcry and an online petition organised by the India Palestine Solidarity Forum.