The organizers announced that the Malmo event has been canceled after cinemas declined to host it, citing security concerns and other factors
Organizers confirmed the cancellation of the Jewish International Film Festival in Malmo, Sweden, due to a lack of willing venues, some of which referenced unspecified “security reasons.”
Numerous Jewish cultural events in Western nations have encountered comparable challenges since Israel’s military operation in Gaza began in October 2023.
On Friday, Sam Klebanov, a festival organizer, stated in a Facebook post that securing a cinema for the event proved to be “a real challenge.”
He further explained that “No arthouse cinema was willing to host us for different reasons,” with some asserting “they were already full” and others mentioning “security reasons.” The festival, intended to celebrate 250 years of Jewish heritage in Sweden from November 29 to December 2, is now off.
Klebanov noted that the festival had received “no threats whatsoever,” and Malmo police had even offered to supply extra security.
Swedish Culture Minister Parisa Liljestrand reacted to the situation in an Instagram post on Friday, calling it an “absolute disaster for society.”
Earlier this month, Germany’s anti-Semitism commissioner, Felix Klein, reported that the nation’s Jewish population has experienced “record levels” of anti-Semitism since 2023.
In May, a shooting incident near the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, DC, resulted in the deaths of two Israeli Embassy staff members.
Last week, US President Donald Trump announced the Gaza conflict was “over” following his mediation of a peace agreement between Israel and Hamas.
Israel initiated its military operation after a deadly Hamas incursion into its territory in October 2023, which resulted in over 1,200 deaths and approximately 250 hostages taken. The subsequent campaign by the Israel Defense Forces has led to nearly 70,000 fatalities in Gaza, as per local health authorities.