Monday, July 20, 2009
Stop Looking For Eric
You can stop Looking For Eric at the Melbourne International Film Festival, for Ken Loach has withdrawn the film in protest against the organisation for receiving funds from the State of Israel.
In what is truly an exquisitely worded press release, MIFF Executive Director Richard Moore has announced the news. Just tell me this paragraph isn't pure genius:
Mr Loach's decision is part of an orchestrated campaign to target events that are in receipt of financial support from the State of Israel. Loach requested that we join the boycott and as an independent arts organisation MIFF has refused. MIFF is extremely disappointed that Mr Loach has taken this stance. MIFF has played every one of his movies at the festival over the years including It's A Free World (sic) in 2008.
You can read the rest of the well argued press release here.
It's a free world after all...
(And for the link to my review of Looking For Eric - which opened the Sydney Film Festival - click here.)
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4 comments:
I completely agree with Richard Moore's stance.
As do I. Particularly such a well written argument. But with this and the Chinese films, I can only hope the extra publicity is making up for the the loss of screenings.
I might take a stand and boycott films by directors who attempt to blackmail film festivals with highly discriminitive demands.
I can't remember what your sentiments were about Looking For Eric, Alice, but I remember Matt Ravier's compilation of different people's reviews, and this one had 3 stars from all but one person. It didn't look like something to go out of one's way for and I had no intention of seeing it at MIFF. Now I don't think I will see it at all, the first time I will give a Loach film the flick since I discovered him with My Name is Joe.
Yes, 3 Stars is about right for Looking for Eric. It was a good opening night film for SFF, but yes, you're not missing anything fabulous.
Still, I can't help but thinking the whole situation is a real shame. Loach seems to be cutting his nose off despite his face.
Glad to see you're enjoying MIFF though. Hope to make it down next year.
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