This is a guest post by Jonathan Sacerdoti.

As you might have read, the Edinburgh International Film Festival has rejected the financial support of the Israeli Embassy, which was paying for an Israeli film-maker to fly over to attend the screening of her own film (which has nothing to do with the Middle East conflict).

Initially, when the Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign (SPSC), bombarded the festival organisers with threats to picket the Festival, Festival Director Ginnie Atkinson took a strong moral stand, declaring that not accepting support from one particular country “would set a dangerous precedent by politicising a cultural and artistic mission”.

Then the serial anti-Israel campaigner and movie director Ken Loach got involved, saying that the “massacres and state terrorism in Gaza make this money unacceptable.” Of course, we all know that there was no massacre in Gaza, and that state terrorism was directed from Gaza towards Israel in the form of a barrage of rockets. But Israel-haters like Loach rarely let the facts get in the way of an opportunity to politicise a totally unconnected event by forcing racism on others. (Ironically, Loach has long campaigned against censorship.)

Faced with the increased publicity that Loach brought to the anti-Israel campaigners, the festival performed an embarrassing U-turn, and promptly caved in to their demands. Thus the Festival has now made an unprincipled and racist move itself, and rejected the support of the embassy. This has sent a clear message to all that Israelis are not (as) welcome as other film-makers are.

Sure, the EIFF has agreed to pay for the flights instead, but the damage is done: racism has become part of an arts festival where it obviously has no place. But the most tragic thing to note is that what prompted this change was not even the Festival Director’s agreement with the racists. She didn’t agree with them and went on record to say so. The campaigners, however, were good at making a lot of noise. That’s how they imposed their wishes on others. It has nothing to do with right and wrong, nor the opinion of the majority. It has everything to do with some people expressing their wishes loudly.

So I propose this: we must make a bigger noise in response. Boycott the Festival, and encourage others to do so, unless the organisers undo this disgraceful decision. Who wants to be part of a racist festival anyway?

Most importantly, I’d like you to write to the Festival Director, Ginnie Atkinson, and complain. Ask her to change her mind (again) and do the right thing. Tell her that racism has no place in the film festival, and that it is wrong to give in to bullies. Explain to her that we can make just as much noise as our haters, and that will be just as harmful to her festival’s reputation.

We’re done with being quiet. It is our responsibility to shout out every time we see racism and antisemitism: however small or insignificant the individual or specific act might seem, it never is. Our responsibility is to argue, explain, and react every time. Start now: write to info@edfilmfest.org.uk and mark your note for the attention of Ginnie Atkinson.

You might also like to contact the Edinburgh Film Festival Sponsors: Yvonne Smith from NEC computers: yvonne.smith@nec-computers.com Oscar Askin, MD Metro Ecosse: oscar.askin@metroecosse.com Ross Laurie, MD, Line: hello@line.uk.com Aisla Cullen, BAFTA Scotland: aisla@baftascotland.co.uk

And at the festival Sadie McKinlay is Head of Development and deals with sponsors, so it might be good to copy her in on your messages to sponsors. Her email address is sadie.mckinlay@edfilmfest.org.uk

You can also join this Facebook group for more information, discussion, and support.