Israeli Filmmaker Amos Gitai Responds to Boycott Calls for ‘Why War’ at Venice

Israeli filmmaker Amos Gitai has defended his Venice Film Festival entry, “Why War,” against calls for its exclusion. The film, which premiered out of competition, draws inspiration from the early 1930s correspondence between Albert Einstein and Sigmund Freud, exploring humanity’s propensity for conflict and ways to prevent war.

Prior to the festival, a petition signed by over 300 artists, including renowned filmmakers like Hany Abu Assad, Enrico Parenti, and Alessandra Ferrini, demanded the boycott of “Why War” and Dani Rosenberg’s “Of Dogs and Men.”

The petition criticized the films for being produced by Israeli companies that allegedly support apartheid and occupation through their complicity. Gitai responded at a press conference, refuting these claims by noting that the petitioners had not viewed his film and emphasizing that it did not receive funding from the Israeli government.

Despite the ongoing violence in Gaza, Gitai remains hopeful for a resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. He believes that extreme low points could pave the way for reconciliation, stating that continued violence cannot be sustained as a path to victory.

Gitai called for a shift away from both Hamas and Benjamin Netanyahu’s right-wing government, criticizing both for their failure to provide basic rights and freedoms. He compared the situation to Iran’s experience under Khomeini, suggesting that the current political conditions are detrimental to progress.

Gitai urged for a change in both Israeli and Palestinian leadership to foster peace. He stressed the need to eliminate extremist, nationalist, and ultra-religious elements from the Israeli government, expressing optimism that a path to peace, while not yet visible, could eventually emerge.