Miami Beach Mayor Proposes to End Lease, Withdraw Funding for Theater Over ‘No Other Land’ Screenings

variety.com:

Pat Saperstein Deputy Editor The mayor of Miami Beach is asking the city to end a lease agreement and withdraw financial support from an independent theater that is screening the Oscar-winning documentary “No Other Land.” Mayor Steven Meiner characterized the film as “a false one-sided propaganda attack on the Jewish people that is not consistent with the values of our City and residents” and has introduced legislation to terminate the O Theater’s lease for the city’s old City Hall building.

Despite winning the Oscar and numerous other awards, “No Other Land” has faced controversy for its depiction of Palestinian homes and villages in the West Bank destroyed by the Israeli military.

U.S. distributors declined to pick it up and it is being booked by distribution consultant Cinetic directly into venues such as the Miami Beach non-profit cinema.

City commissioners will vote on the proposal next week, according to the Miami Herald. The resolution put forth by the mayor reads “Whereas, the Mayor and City Commission desire to identify a new tenant/grantee to operate the movie theater located on the Premises that more accurately reflects the City’s values and/or interests in promoting a safe and inclusive environment for residents and visitors.” O Cinema CEO Vivian Marthell originally decided to cancel the screenings, writing to the mayor on March 6, “Due to the concerns of antisemitic rhetoric, we have decided to withdraw the film from our programming.