Film about October 7 Hamas attack canceled at Cannes due to ‘security risk’

Thanks to enhanced security measures, attendees at this year’s Cannes Film Festival encountered only a few hiccups. Even the ongoing war and the Israeli hostage situation in Gaza did not make headlines during the festival, unlike the Berlinale.

But a private screening, planned outside the festival and market, was abruptly canceled, and attendees were told it was due to a security threat. The details of what happened remain unclear.

On May 17, Sharon Harel-Cohen, co-founder of WestEnd Films, hosted a screening of “Bearing Witness” for a small group of industry people in town for the festival. The 47-minute film shows raw footage of the October 7 terrorist attack in southern Israel, some of which was captured by body cameras and CCTV cameras. The invitation warned: “The images are extremely graphic and violent, including videos of killings filmed by Hamas terrorists. » He also noted: “For security reasons, the location will only be communicated a few days before the event, to registered participants only.” Participants were given the location, the Hôtel Exclusif Belle Plage – located about a mile from the Palace – and were asked not to share it with others. But shortly before the screening, participants were informed that it had been canceled.

“About an hour before, we received orders from the Israeli military not to hold the screening due to a security threat,” said Maya Amsellem, co-founder of WestEnd Films. Variety. “We have not heard any additional details.” Harel-Cohen added: “There’s not much you can do. When you learn that there is a security problem on the part of the IDF, that’s it. It was an opportunity. It’s really a shame. Harel-Cohen said she has no plans to try to screen “Bearing Witness” again while the festival is running.

Gadi Wildstrom, who organizes the annual Cannes Shabbat dinner for industry movers and shakers, hosted by Rabbi Mendel Schwartz and the Chai Center in Los Angeles, planned to attend the screening, but was told that the The event was canceled due to a “serious security risk”. » “This is typical of what we are facing,” Wildstrom added. (The Shabbat dinner, held on May 17, went off without a hitch and attracted nearly 100 industry guests from more than 40 countries.)

But other sources with knowledge of the operation say that it was canceled because the Israel Defense Forces had requested permission to hold the screening only two hours before the scheduled time and that the operation did not go ahead. had not followed safety protocol. A private screening of “Bearing Witness” was also planned in Paris the same day and was canceled after several hostages depicted in the film were found dead, according to a source involved in organizing the screening. An IDF spokesperson declined to comment.

A screening of “Bearing Witness” in Los Angeles in November brought together prominent members of the film and television community, including producers Lawrence Bender and Jamie Patricof and Mattel CEO Ynon Kreiz. But the event, held under heavy surveillance at the Museum of Tolerance in west Los Angeles, was marred by protests outside the building representing both sides of the Israel-Gaza divide. Violent clashes broke out after the screening ended.

Overall, the Cannes Film Festival red carpet was virtually devoid of political statements. The few exceptions included Laura Blajman-Kadar, a survivor of the October 7 attacks who, on May 15, wore a yellow dress decorated with the faces of hostages held by Hamas and a scarf reading “Bring Them Home.” . The ban on all demonstrations stems from the desire of the festival organizers to maintain the focus on cinema, as declared by Cannes president Iris Knobloch. Varietybut also for security reasons since France is currently on alert in the face of terrorist threats.

In addition to a record number of security officers on the ground and checkpoints, the city of Cannes has inaugurated 17 AI-based video surveillance cameras around the Palais des Festivals to flag anything suspicious or at risk. Thus, the entrance to the Palace was briefly closed on the afternoon of May 18 after a bomb threat following a backpack found in the pedestrian crossing. And the French festival-goers’ union has organized small impromptu protests throughout the week, but appears to have no impact on the flow of pedestrians heading to premieres and panels.