Miami a small arthouse cinema on Miami Beach is confronted with the possible cancellation of the lease and the loss of $ 80,000 in subsidy money promised by the Stads of the Oscar-winning documentary No other country (2024) After repeated intimidation attempts from the mayor.
The 90 -minute film, co -directed by Palestinian journalist and activist Basel Adra and Israeli journalist Yuval Abraham, describes the destruction of houses and displacement of Palestinian people by Israeli troops in Masafer Yatta in the occupied western bank. Despite the earning of international awards, the documentary has difficulty finding an American distributor, and the attempt to close O Cinema is the last escalation in a continuous campaign to prevent it from being shown in Miami Beach.
On March 5, the mayor of the city of Steven Meiner sent one letter On the CEO of the cinema of the cinema, the cancellation of all planned impressions of No other countryclaim that the film “was derived by government officials and other sources around the world” and that the acceptance speech of the filmmakers had with the Oscars “prove”[n] The anti-Semitic nature of the film with the help of Jew-hate propaganda. ”
Although the theater initially admitted and his plans to show the film, the organization finally decided to turn the course, restore all planned impressions and add four extra showtimes next week.
“My initial response to the threats of Mayor Meiner was made under forced,” Marthell shared in a statement Hyperallergic. “After I think about the broader implications for the freedom of expression and the mission of the cinema, I (together with the O Cinema Board and employees) agreed that it was crucial to screen this highly praised film.”
It is not the first time that Miami Beach’s government is accused of silence of the speech that supports Palestinians or is critical of Israel. Mayor Meiner previously criticized the proponents of the first amendment, when the city took on a resolution that limited the public meeting to certain areas after a coalition of pro-Palestine activists and artists who were demonstrated outside of Art Basel Miami Beach in 2023.
The city of Miami Beach did not respond HyperallergicThe requests for comments.
O Cinema, the first local theater that programs No other countrySince 2011, the Miami community has served with the mission to show the audience of high quality that they may not see in South Florida. In her March 6 answer CEO Marthell wrote to the letter from the Meiner about the long -standing of the theater Partnership with the Miami Jewish Film Festival and be Current Holocaust film series.
“The selection of this film is driven by our dedication to offer the community the opportunity to experience Oscar-nominated and Award season films firsthand. No other country Fits those criteria, “Marthell said in the letter to Meiner.
In a newsletter about municipal affairs sent to voters on Tuesday evening, March 11, Mayor Meiner called a section called “O Cinema O My” in which he quoted the reaction of Marthell and shared his own criticism of the much-praised documentary, called “a false one-sided propaganda attack on the Jewish people” that was not consistent “with the Waarden of the Waardenstent” the Waarden of our city and the Waardenstent “that was not consistent” with the Waarden of our city “the Waardenstent” that was not consistent “with the Waarden of our city” that “I was” the “Identen” Waardenstent. In another section, Meiner stated: “I am an avid believer in freedom of expression.”
That same evening, Miami Herald Reporter Aaron LeiboWitz shared a copy of a resolution Presested by the mayor and the city committee that the city manager commissioned to terminate the lease and subsidy agreements of O Cinema.
The theater, currently housed on 1130 Washington Avenue in South Beach, moved several times before it landed in the current room with one screen, which in 2019 will transfer to Miami Beach on Miami Beach in a series of spaces on Miami Beach after the redevelopment of the original location in the Wynwood district.
In an interview with HyperallergicO cinema co-founder and documentary maker Kareem Tabsch said that the organization felt blinded by the threat of losing the space, which has a small film-oriented library and café, as well as a collection of Efemere, making it a unique space for Cinefielen in South Florida.
“It is housed so many films of people with different backgrounds, and we are a community space that brings intersection with other organizations and them to Miami Beach,” said Tabsch, referring to the programming of the theater with regional partners such as the Southern Circuit Tour of Independent filmmakers such as the Miami Festival.
In the past, O Cinema has offered a screening series such as Lift every voiceExplicitly aimed at emphasizing queer and bipoc film makers in a state that has built up an increasing reputation for extreme right-wing and hateful politics.
“I’m really worried about the reputation of the city,” said Tabsch. “What does this say to the international art community? What happens to the artist who wants to show in Art Basel, or the organizers of Art Basel? Do you really want to be tailored to a city known for censing artists and art organizations? “
“There is a huge economic impact that we are not talking about yet, but this is bad for the community of Miami Beach, it’s bad for the economy,” he continued. “Art and culture is a huge engine of our economy, and artists and art presenters are not good for censorship.”
This controversy has come at a busy time, because the theater is aimed at opening a second location in the Little Little Little Little Little Little neighborhood, which would also include spaces for classes and workshops. The location in South Beach is currently closed while the screen is being replaced, which would be a wasted costs if the mayor is successful to remove them from their house of more than five years. But Tabsch was insisting that O Cinema wants to stay on Miami Beach and continue to serve this community and neighborhoods inland.
Daniel Tilley, legal director at the American Civil Liberties Union of Florida, has already mentioned the retaliation of the mayor “unconstitutional. “The proposed resolution to close the theater will be discussed on one Hybrid Commission Meeting On Wednesday, March 19 at 8:30 am, where there is a chance on public comment, and Mayor Meiner will also hold a virtual town hall on Tuesday at 5:30 PM.
Tabsch urged the worried local and national members of the art and film community to make their indignation known to the chosen officials, and was hopeful that a friendly solution would be found that the theater could remain at this location.
“To think that we have survived a global pandemic and now perhaps compete against a local government who decides that we no longer want us to operate,” Tabsch said Hyperallergic.
“We don’t want to leave,” she continued. “This is the second theater we opened in Miami Beach. We love Miami Beach … we don’t want to see Miami beach without O Cinema. ‘
