"It's a homophobic silence": Israeli director claims censorship of German film event

The young Israeli director who may have been from Meland was to present his acclaimed "Mini DV" film at a German university, but the screening was canceled - and, according to him, it happened because the film shows a scene of rape involving two children. "I am appalled that something like this would never happen in Israel," he said

"It's a homophobic silence": Israeli director claims censorship of German film event

"Young DV" by the young Israeli filmmaker who perhaps teaches is a personal, autobiographical, beautiful and complex film - and bold. The film, which is based on home videos that the director filmed in his youth, deals with issues such as sexual identity formation and sexual assault. After being screened at a number of local festivals and awarded them prizes, he went to the German Screening Series this week as part of the Max Opoles Festival, the second largest student festival in the country.

It is planned that the film was to be screened at both the festival, which takes place at the Zarberican, as well as at local academic institutions, including HTW Saar University. But to Melamed's astonishment, when he arrived on the scene, he discovered that the screening had been canceled, without notice and without explanations, though it was clear early on what was behind the cancellation.

"The screening at the festival took place as usual, and at the end I understood why this was canceled at the university," says the director, who recently co-created the documentary hit "Enlighten Yossi" and is currently working on a film about Shoshana Damari for HOT 8. "The screening was held with the audience and She said the university official rejected the movie because it had a rape scene. I was in the market. I was shocked by what I heard. I didn't believe such a fairy tale could happen in a liberal state. I'm not saying my movie is easy to watch, but canceling the screening is a homophobic silence. "

"If you don't make a baby, look at you crooked and push you back to the closet"

"I understand that the film is difficult, but not agreeing to have a discussion - it's a shame." From "Mini DV" (Photo: PR)

Mini DV (Photo: Shauli Melamed, PR)

"What the university responsible calls a 'rape scene' is the center of the film. These are the subjects the film deals with - the bursting sexuality that is trying to repress, in the taboo of sexuality in children, in the experiences that everyone goes through, but no one is willing to talk about."

Rape scenes are not unusual in festival films. Do you think that if it wasn't a scene featuring two boys, the reaction would have been different?

"There are no movies with harsh rape scenes, so I think the fact that boys with boys is related is because it doesn't go down their throat. The answer is yes. There is something about two kids that touches each other that gives people the fear that it is happening to them at home, and they have no Control it. I think the university would have had a lot more to get the movie if it had a similar scene, but with a son and a daughter. "

What's the next step?

"I came here on behalf of Tel Aviv University and we are not rejecting a formal complaint. I am currently working on a long film that will expand the short film and deepen the topic. It's difficult to raise funding for a film on such a topic, and if the story happened to me, it is a reminder that it is still difficult sometimes Society has to deal with an issue like sexuality in children, probably when it's gay sexuality. "

"I am a young filmmaker, and this is the first time I have had such an extreme reaction. Obviously if I expose myself like in the film, such reactions must be taken into account, but my right to comment too. Meanwhile, he will have another screening today as part of the festival in Germany, he was accepted into the festival The queer in Melbourne and he will have more screenings in Israel in January. I really think that would not happen in the country. It has happened to me that people came out of the screening in the middle, and I accept it, but not agreeing to discuss the film in the first place because of its content - it's a shame. "

"I never believed something like this could happen." Shauli teaches (Photo: PR)

Shauli teaches (Photo: Shauli teaches, PR)