Artists Withdraw from IDFA Festival Amid Controversy Over Palestine Protest Response

Festival Faces Backlash for Apology Over 'Hurtful' Chant, Palestinian Film Institute Pulls Out

Several artists, including Basma Alsharif, Jumana Manna, and Sky Hopinka, have withdrawn their work from the International Documentary Festival Amsterdam (IDFA) due to the festival's response to a protest supporting Palestine.
The IDFA has faced controversy since its opening, particularly over its artistic director, Orwa Nyrabia, applauding a protest where attendees chanted a slogan seen as polarizing and potentially antisemitic.
The festival issued an apology for the chant, calling it a 'hurtful slogan' that does not represent the IDFA, leading to further backlash and withdrawals from artists who saw the apology as damaging.
The Palestinian Film Institute has also pulled out from all organized activities at the IDFA film market, and staged a demonstration outside the IDFA headquarters demanding a ceasefire in Gaza.
Nyrabia has stated that he respects the decisions of all filmmakers to withdraw their films, and that the festival aims to be an open platform for all voices.