At this critical moment, we feel compelled to speak clearly and unequivocally. The ongoing
conflict in Israel and Palestine and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza continue to inflict profound
suffering on innocent civilians. The rising death toll, widespread physical and psychological
trauma, and the erosion of human life on both sides are devastating and unacceptable. The
Tel Aviv International Student Film Festival calls for an immediate end to this tragic situation.
The festival does not represent the policies or actions of the Israeli government. As an
independent, nonprofit cultural institution, TISFF was founded on the belief that students
deserve a space to tell complex human stories, challenge systems of power, and express
diverse and critical perspectives. While the festival receives public cultural funding, as do
countless arts institutions worldwide, this support does not constitute alignment with
government policy. Cultural institutions belong to the public: to the filmmakers, producers,
and students who create cinema out of a commitment to justice, freedom, and peace. Broad
exclusion of Israeli cultural institutions harms precisely these young voices – those who
question and critique their own reality through their work. Undermining cultural spaces does
not influence governments; it silences the people who are striving to challenge systems,
imagine alternatives, and communicate across borders.
For decades, TISFF has served as a home for young filmmakers from around the world – a
space rooted in pluralism, freedom of expression, equality, and humanity. We believe deeply
in the power of cinema to foster dialogue, raise difficult questions, and open pathways
toward understanding. Our call for submissions has always been open to all, and each year
we welcome students and films from a wide range of countries, cultures, and perspectives.
We welcome every filmmaker who chooses to submit, regardless of nationality, religion, or
political belief, provided their work aligns with universal humanistic values.
We are acutely aware that in recent years, students from Palestine, Turkey, Morocco,
Lebanon, Iran, and other regions have expressed solidarity with the festival while also sharing
that participating in or engaging with an event hosted in Tel Aviv can place them in a
sensitive, difficult, or even dangerous position in their home countries. This reality is deeply
regrettable, as any form of artistic restriction is.
We call on the international filmmaking community not to conflate governments with the
students and filmmakers who shape Israel’s artistic and cultural landscape. Protecting open
cultural spaces is essential, now more than ever. We remain committed to ensuring that
every student, from anywhere and with any story, has the right to create, to be heard, and to
be seen. We welcome those who feel aligned with this spirit to submit their work.
Nevertheless, should you have any questions or wish to engage in further discussion, please
don’t hesitate to reach out to us.
Sincerely,
Oshrit Bitton & Daniel Gat | Festival Directors
28th Tel-Aviv International Student Film Festival