Naseeruddin Shah, Anant Patwardhan Lead Call for NFDC to Cancel Israel Film Festival

A coalition of citizens, including actors Naseeruddin Shah and Ratna Pathak Shah, renowned filmmaker Anant Patwardhan, and others, has formally requested that the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC) cancel the Israel Film Festival slated for August 21-22, 2024, in Mumbai. This appeal is driven by the group's concerns over Israeli actions in the ongoing Gaza conflict. The festival is planned to take place at the National Museum of Indian Cinema (NMIC).

“The NFDC's decision to host this festival at a time when the world is witnessing Israeli war crimes, the ongoing humanitarian crisis, and the severe impact on Gaza and Palestine, is deeply troubling,” the statement asserts.

Additional signatories to the petition include renowned freedom fighter Dr. G.G. Parekh, writer and activist Tushar Gandhi (the great-grandson of Mahatma Gandhi), senior journalist Javed Anand, and others.

The statement references research into Israeli war crimes in Palestine and notes that the Indian government has recognized the state of Palestine and advocated for ceasefires in the ongoing conflict. “The NFDC and NMIC management should be aware that the Indian government has consistently supported a ceasefire and recognized Palestine, a stance also adopted by the majority of nations,” the statement emphasizes.

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