Student film boycotted in UK over scenes in Israel

A Goldsmiths University of London student's short film project was boycotted at the Theatre and Performance (TaP) school’s final degree show in May because of scenes set and filmed in Israel, a student filmmaker told The Jerusalem Post.

Hungarian student Beata Konya’s final-year film Threads of Eternity, which features kabbalistic and Hungarian folklore themes and a vision of a previous life in ancient Judea at Mitzpe Ramon, was met with a “silent boycott” at the mid-May Tap Out 2024 festival.

Students had congregated outside the screening of the film, but declined to enter, according to Konya. Some Goldsmiths students told their peers that they did not view the film explicitly because of its filming location. Other classmates ceased speaking to Konya.

One classmate confronted Konya about her feelings about the war, uninterested in how Konya mourned those she knew who had been killed on October 7 and was concerned for those who had escaped.

Konya was in touch with the university, which held a meeting with a local rabbi on how to move forward with the festival, and released a May 21 statement about tensions.

“We are very clear to respect freedom of speech and political views, and students and staff will of course have different experiences of issues that concern violence and oppression. TaP is very clear to follow the University’s policy that when it comes to a controlled conditions exam, teaching staff already risk-assess and ethics-approve the content of these exams as part of their pedagogic judgment,” A Goldsmiths staff member said in a message to the course. “If you believe strongly that you do not like a topic, content or platform of another student’s exam, please seek advice as to how you respond. We as a Department need to prioritize the carrying out of all exams in a positive and respectful way. It is not acceptable for any student or groups of students to disrupt another student’s exam for any reason. TaP follows the University’s policies, and such gestures in a graduating festival could be seen as harassment and bullying under those policies and would be disruptive of another student’s exam.”

Konya said that the university likely responded to her situation because they were concerned about her mental health – she had ended a trip in Israel only days before October 7 and had survived another terrorist attack, she said. Konya had difficulties in the wake of the Hamas-led pogrom.

“When you experience something like that, then your whole life changes,” said Konya.

Konya was not surprised by the boycott because of the burgeoning pro-Palestinian activism at the university, “but it got really bad to the point that I nearly left the school.”

Hostile climate on Goldsmiths's campus

There were regular protests, and Konya shared a picture of a vandalized mirror in a school washroom that read “Death 2 Israel, if this makes you feel unsafe then you’re a f***ing c**t.”

Goldsmiths had an active encampment on the campus until late June, but the protesters swore they would return.“Action will continue at Goldsmiths until divestment, until liberation, until return and until justice,” Goldsmiths for Palestine said on Instagram on June 28. “Solidarity to all other encampments and occupations for Gaza. Long live the student intifada. Long live the global intifada.”

In mid-May, the anti-Israel group occupied the Candida and Zac Gertler’s Gallery, renaming it after the deceased Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine terrorist Walid Daqqah.

A Goldsmiths spokesperson said that from the onset of the Israel-Hamas War, they had prioritized the safety and support of all students and staff while "recognizing that there is a range of strongly held views among our community over this issue."

"We published guidance for students and staff which emphasizes both the right to protest and the need for such protests to take place in line with our policies, our values, and the law," said the spokesperson.

Konya said that she never wanted to get involved in politics while at the university, and was saddened by the anger and hatred she had witnessed on campus. She advised that students should reach out to the administration for help, to protect their mental health, and not get into pointless fights.

“At the end of the day, we are all one, and with hate, we are never going to reach an understanding, and it is only with conversations that we can move forward,” she said.

A spokesperson for Goldsmiths, University of London, said: “From the beginning of the conflict, it has been our priority to ensure that all students and staff are safe and supported, recognizing that there is a range of strongly held views among our community over this issue.

“We published guidance for students and staff which emphasizes both the right to protest and the need for such protests to take place in line with our policies, our values, and the law.”