Stray Dogs Norway’s KriStine Skaret: “It's terribly sad that IDFA is being accused of anti-semitism”

The international Documentary Festival Amsterdam (IDFA) has had a tumultuous first weekend.

Following the controversy of a slogan from pro-Palestinian activists at the opening night - November 8 - stating “from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free”, and vehement condemnation of the incident from the Israeli documentary film community, IDFA artistic director Orwa Nyrabia and his team issued an apology for the ‘offensive’ slogan. - CLICK HERE.

At the same time, IDFA published on November 10, a call for “an immediate ceasefire” of the Israeli-Hamas conflict, underscoring that it respects “the pain and the huge loss on both the Palestinian and Israeli sides of the on-going conflict".

But on November 11, it was the turn of the Palestinian Film Institute (PFI) to express its dissatisfaction and decision to withdraw from all organised activities at the IDFA Market - to read their statement CLICK HERE.

Among the six films carrying the Palestinian flag is Life is Beautiful (Al Haya Helwa) by Gaza-born Tromsø-based Mohamed Jabaly - read our interview.

The Norwegian/Palestinian film selected for IDFA’s coveted international competition slot, is majority-produced by KriStine Skaret and Sarah Winge-Sørensen for Stray Dogs Norway, with support from the Norwegian Film Institute, Fritt Ord, Fond for lyd og bilde, Nordnorsk Filmsenter, FilmFond Nord, and International Media Support among others.

Despite the PFI’s stand, the film’s sold out world premiere Monday November 13 was due to go ahead as scheduled.

In an official statement, KriStine Skaret said: “It is completely inhumane what is happening in Gaza now, and I have great understanding of the Palestinians' desperation to be heard and recognised. And I think it's terribly sad that IDFA is being accused of antisemitism for making space for Palestinian activists.”

“To premiere at IDFA has been our dream for this film since we started working on it many years ago. We wish the circumstances were completely different now that we are here. We believe in the importance of telling stories from the inside and that film can contribute to understanding and our common humanity.”

Jabaly who took centre stage on Sunday for the presentation of three new Palestinian projects at IDFA’s Palestinian Documentary Hub, said he decided to go ahead with the IDFA screening because he wants his voice - and the Palestinian people’s voice to be heard. “Because now that everything has been destroyed, what is left are our stories and freedom of expression,” he underscored.

Bente Roalsvig from Fritt Ord said she is pleased that Life is Beautiful is sticking to its world premiere schedule at IDFA. “As the director, Jabaly is the only one who can make this decision. His film is also a testimony to the injustice of statelessness and displacement,” she stated.

Meanwhile in an attempt to cool the heated discussions around the opening night controversy, on Monday IDFA issued yet another statement, addressing the entire documentary community, reiterating the festival's core mission: “IDFA is about giving the stage to outstanding artists to be critical and free. IDFA is an open platform and not a censor. Our aim is to make sure everybody feels welcome and safe to express themselves and to listen openly to others, even when in disagreement. Our hope is that everybody feels entitled to use this platform, seriously and responsibly, lovingly and sincerely.”

Esther van Messel, head of the sales company First Hand Films, handling Life is Beautiful added: "You can be for a free Palestine and for a just, democratic Israel. People chanting for one side scare me. There is room to stand with the innocent anywhere, and if you support freedom for all, you have to fight those who take it from the people on all sides. We need a ceasefire now, the end of the blockade of Gaza by Israel and Egypt, the freedom of the hostages, and we need dialogue, and ways of peace, and justice for all."

Life is Beautiful is set to premiere in Norway in 2024. Skaret said she is in discussions with a Norwegian broadcaster and a theatrical distributor for the film’s domestic release. A Nordic festival platform early 2024 is also lined up.