The director of the Israeli documentary “No Other Land,” which focuses on Palestinian displacement in the West Bank, has criticized efforts by the mayor of Miami Beach to evict a local cinema for screening the Oscar-winning film. The documentary’s Israeli director, Yuval Abraham, argues that banning a film will only increase viewers’ determination to see it.
Mayor Steven Meiner of Miami Beach has issued a draft resolution to terminate the city’s lease agreement with O Cinema and withdraw $40,000 in grant funding due to the independent cinema’s programming of “No Other Land.” Meiner labels the film as “false one-sided propaganda” that could incite hatred against Jewish people.
In opposition to the mayor’s stance, Abraham contests the use of accusations of antisemitism to silence Palestinians and Israelis advocating for justice and equality, deeming such attempts dangerous. He believes that the film aims to inform diverse political viewpoints in the United States and fears that the harsh realities depicted in “No Other Land” may undermine the Israeli occupation’s justification.
As per Meiner’s newsletter, O Cinema’s CEO initially agreed to remove the film from its schedule but later reversed her decision. The screenings received a strong response, leading to sold-out shows and added dates in March.
O Cinema maintains its commitment to free speech by screening the film, emphasizing that it is not a political endorsement but a challenge to hear all voices. A Miami Beach commissioner shares the mayor’s disapproval of the film but suggests that a hasty reaction could provoke legal issues and points out O Cinema’s longstanding support for the Jewish community.
The documentary, which won the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature, portrays the demolition of Palestinian villages in the occupied West Bank and narrates the improbable friendship between Abraham and the Palestinian activist Basel Adra, who co-directed the film.
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Source: https://www.theguardian.com/film/2025/mar/14/no-other-land-director-florida-mayor-miami-beach-documentary-ntwnfb
