Helen Mirren, Mila Kunis, Mim Bialik, Neil Patrick Harris and a long line of American actors and filmmakers have signed an open letter expressing support for filmmakers expected to take part in the Tel Aviv International Pride Film Festival TLVFest, which is expected to open next month.
In the letter, they strongly oppose calls for a boycott of the festival and for a cultural boycott of Israel.
The long and detailed letter was published on the website of the American association Creative Community For Peace as a counter-action to the calls that were common in the international film community and called for a boycott of the festival.
"We reject any attempt to boycott the largest film festival in Israel, which aims to provide a platform for the stories of members of the LGBT community around the world and create a brighter future for members of the community in Israel and around the world," it said.
Helen Mirren,
"We stand united with all the filmmakers who take part in it and go against the party rhetoric, dictated by activists who aim to spread false information, bully and intimidate artists to make them remove their works or shame them for taking part in it.
"We believe that everyone who takes part in the boycott of the festival is only adding from the teacher to the freedom, justice, equality and peace that we all long for, especially for the persecuted LGBT community in the Middle East and the world.
The voice of artists must not be silenced and art must not be used for political purposes. "
The letter is also signed by well-known names such as Israeli producer Haim Saban, actors Billy Porter and Zachary Quinto, Sharon Osborne, songwriter Diane Warren and director Paul Page.
The festival is expected to open on November 11th.
