Israeli filmmaker Nadav Lapid withdraws from French festival after boycott pressure

Israeli filmmaker Nadav Lapid has withdrawn from the FID Marseille international film festival, scheduled for July, following significant boycott pressure. The decision came after several directors announced they would pull their films from the festival to protest Lapid's planned participation, expressing support for a cultural boycott of Israel.

Tsveta Dobreva, the director of FID Marseille, told Le Monde that Lapid was invited solely based on his filmmaking merit. However, she began receiving calls demanding his disinvitation. Despite initial resistance, the pressure intensified, leading the festival to consider alternative arrangements, such as a separate event for Lapid to present his film "Policeman" with a discussion and book launch.

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We invited Nadav Lapid solely out of respect for his filmmaking. That is the only criterion at FID. Then I started receiving calls demanding that he be disinvited. At first, I didn't respond because I fully accepted our decision. But the pressure continued and intensified.

Lapid, who has lived in France since 2021, decided to withdraw to prevent further embarrassment for the festival. He is a prominent Israeli filmmaker known for his critical stance against the Netanyahu government, a theme present in his latest film, "Yes." His previous works, including "Synonyms" and "Ahed's Knee," have received international acclaim.

While stepping down, Lapid criticized the festival's response to the controversy. "FID didn't realize it was facing such a campaign of threats," he told the newspaper. "Maybe they should have accepted a bit more responsibility in a moment like this... For a year, it was my film Yes that was attacked. And now, suddenly, it was my mere presence that became unacceptable. I asked myself: 'What do they want exactly? That I stop making films? That I leave France? How far will this go?'" A petition reportedly signed by prominent figures in the French film industry is circulating to condemn the "campaign of intimidation" against Lapid.

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FID didn't realize it was facing such a campaign of threats. Maybe they should have accepted a bit more responsibility in a moment like this… For a year, it was my film Yes that was attacked. And now, suddenly, it was my mere presence that became unacceptable. I asked myself: 'What do they want exactly? That I stop making films? That I leave France? How far will this go?'