Council for Film Recommends Halting International Festival Points After 'Nez'a' Controversy

Following the controversy surrounding the documentary film "Nez'a" (Inside the Red Line), which won an award at the Venice Film Festival, the Israeli Council for Film convened an emergency meeting and recommended to Culture and Sports Minister Miki Zohar on Wednesday to cancel the scoring system for films winning at international festivals. The council also proposed establishing a dedicated funding track for films celebrating the heroism of IDF soldiers.

The recommendations are intended to counter what the council views as defamation campaigns against Israel globally, while simultaneously bolstering artistic works that connect with Israeli identity and the memory of soldiers' bravery. This move is part of a broader reform in the Ministry of Culture and Sports' film funding mechanisms, aiming to prioritize content aligned with Israeli values.

The proposed changes include completely eliminating points awarded to Israeli films at international festivals, a measure that follows previous reductions aimed at preventing public funding for films perceived as harming the country's image. The new dedicated track would specifically support films focusing on the heroism of IDF soldiers and Israeli military campaigns.

The Council stated that these recommendations are the result of extensive professional work that began before the current controversy. They emphasized that the reform aims to maintain freedom of expression and diverse creation while providing significant incentives for films connected to Israeli identity and existence.