Israeli police shut down a screening of Palestinian 2026 Oscar entry Palestine 36 in Jerusalem last week in a move described by the film’s director Annemarie Jacir as a violation of freedom expression.
In a statement sent to Deadline, Jacir recounted how Israeli police officers entered the Yabous Cultural Centre and Cinematheque in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood of East Jerusalem last Thursday (January 22) and forcibly halted a scheduled screening of the film.
“During the raid, authorities detained the projectionist, took him in for interrogation, and posted an official notice prohibiting any future screenings of the film along with a wholly false and baseless allegation that Yabous was screening a film promoting work by a terrorist organization – an accusation that is both factually incorrect and profoundly absurd,” wrote Jacir.
“The forced cancellation of a cultural event, the detention of an individual for carrying out a technical role, and the blanket ban on future screenings represent a serious violation of freedom of expression and artistic freedom,” she continued.
“These actions are intended to intimidate cultural workers and deter artistic expression more broadly. Film screenings are a legitimate and peaceful form of cultural and public discourse, and their suppression raises grave concerns about censorship and the misuse of authority.”
Palestine 36 explores the events surrounding the 1936-39 Arab Revolt in which Palestinians rose up against Britain’s colonial rule, against the backdrop of rising Jewish immigration and following the UK’s support for the establishment of a national home for the Jews in Palestine with the 1917 Balfour Declaration.
Following Palestinians from all walks of life, it focuses on the indecision of High Commissioner Sir Arthur Grenfell Wauchope as well as the barbarity of the British army. The film alludes to the rising Jewish population, highlighting the fact that many were escaping persecution, but does not explore these communities in-depth.
The movie premiered in Toronto and enjoyed a buzzy festival and awards run. It was chosen as Palestine’s entry to the 98th Academy Awards and made it as far as the 15-title shortlist stage in a campaign supported by the likes of Mark Ruffalo, Diego Luna, Susan Sarandon but was not nominated.
In between times, it won Best Film at the Tokyo International Film Festival, was short listed at the European Film Awards, received the Audience Award in São Paul and is currently screening in cinemas in France, the UK, and across the Arab world.
Israeli media reported that the halting of the screening had been instigated by Avshalom Peled, the newly installed commander of Israel’s Jerusalem District police force and was part of a new campaign dubbed Operation Capital Shield, aimed at fighting crime and the threat of terrorism in the city.
Deadline has contacted the international spokesperson for the Israeli police for comment and further details but has yet to hear back.
In a separate incident last week, Peled also banned a youth-focused art exhibition at the Palestinian Al-Hakawati Theater in East Jerusalem, again citing terrorism concerns without giving details.
“We call on the authorities to immediately cease actions that restrict freedom of expression, to clarify the legal basis for the shutdown and detention, and to ensure that artists, cultural organizers, and technical staff can carry out their work without fear of harassment or punishment,” said Jacir.
Peled officially took up the position of Jerusalem police chief in early January, after being appointed to the role by far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir. One of his first major actions was to allow the opening-up of prayer access for Jewish worshippers within the sensitive Al Aqsa Mosque compound.
The complex is built on Temple Mount, which is regarded as Judaism’s holiest place as the site of two ancient temples. However, Peled’s move challenges the longstanding status quo forbidding Jewish worship at the site, due to a combination of prohibitions imposed by the Jerusalem Islamic Waqf and Orthodox rabbis.
There are fears the change in the rules around Jewish prayers could deepen an already tension situation during the upcoming Ramadan religious period and the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
The Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood has also been in the news in recent days due to the Israeli government’s move to seize and demolish the site housing a key compound belonging to UNRWA, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East.
UNWRA said in a statement that it had leased the land from Jordan since 1952 and that its seizure is a breach of international law. East Jerusalem was annexed by Israel during the 1967 War and is regarded as occupied Palestinian land under international law.
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