For a Free Palestine: Ghanaians unite to demand cancellation of “Israeli Film Festival”

By Kate Janse Van Rensburg

In solidarity with the people of
Palestine, various representatives of organisations picket against the Israeli
Film Festival outside Silverbird Cinema at the Accra Mall, Ghana, 17 September
2025. Image: Pan African Television

A coalition of nearly 400 organisations and prominent individuals in Ghana launched a campaign to cancel the “Israeli Film Festival,” scheduled
from 16-20 September 2025, at Silverbird Cinema at the Accra Mall. The campaign, which included a public letter, called on Silverbird to withdraw from
hosting the event and for all sponsors to pull out immediately.

The organisers of the “Cancel Israeli Film Festival” campaign described
the event as “Zionist propaganda” and an attempt to “whitewash genocide and apartheid” in the context of the ongoing Israeli genocide against the Palestinian people in Gaza. “It is breathtaking hypocrisy that Silverbird, having just screened the anti-apartheid film Comrade Tambo’s London Recruits on 7 September, now seeks to celebrate the “culture” of today’s worst apartheid state,” read the statement. The organisers said that providing a platform for Israeli cultural expression equals “complicity in crimes against humanity.”

With Palestinian flags flying high, the coalition peacefully picketed at the Silverbird Cinema during the festival dates to urge public support for the boycott. The campaign called on all sponsors, including SAF STL, Amandi Foundation, Rolider, Sienna Services, EON, and the University of Media, Arts and Communications (UniMac), to withdraw their support. The
involvement of UniMac, a publicly-funded institution, was singled out as particularly “disgraceful.” Campaigners warned that if the festival proceeds, they will initiate a boycott of all companies and institutions involved.

Member of the Socialist Movement of Ghana, Victoria Wilson, who was at the picket, said, “We are against the genocide that Israel is committing. We are going to be picketing here throughout the film festival with a message that says Palestine must be free. Until the genocide stops, we are going to champion the
cause of the freedom of the Palestinian people.”

“The reason I am here today is because I am human and I believe in humanity. I do not believe in genocide against any people. I don’t believe in occupying land.
I don’t believe in settlers going in on stolen land and ethnically cleansing
people,” said Susie Rundle, another protestor against the Israeli Film Festival.

The campaign also highlighted Ghana’s historical anti-imperialist stance and record of solidarity with liberation movements, arguing that the festival is an insult to the country’s values. This campaign aligns itself with a growing global
movement of outrage over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. It is supported by a wide range of leading Ghanaian public figures, artists, academics, journalists, activists, students and organisations.

List of endorsing individuals:

1. Kwesi Pratt Jnr. – Veteran
   journalist and Social Justice commentator
2. Emile Short – Former
   Commissioner, Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice
   (CHRAJ)
3. Nii Kwate Owoo – Celebrated
   Ghanaian filmmaker
4. Audrey Gadzekpo – Renowned
   academic and public intellectual
5. Dzodzi Tsikata – Distinguished
   scholar and activist
6. Yao Graham – Coordinator, Third
   World Network-Africa
7. Kwame Karikari – Media freedom
   advocate, Wisconsin International University College
8. Oliver Barker-Vormawor –
   Democracy Hub leader
9. Hardi Yakubu – Youth Leader and
   Coordinator, Africans Rising Movement
10. Akyaaba Addai-Sebo –
    Pan-Africanist and human rights campaigner
11. Bright Ackwerh – Leading visual
    artist
12. Chris Atim – historic Ghanaian
    student leader and respected Health Economist
13. Kwame Mfodwo – Public
    intellectual
14. Akunu Dake – Activist and
    strategist
15. Dr. Sylvia Bawa – Academic and
    feminist activist
16. Prof. Akosua Adomako Ampofo –
    Scholar and gender advocate
17. Kwasi Adu-Amankwah – Trade
    unionist and civil society leader
18. Prof. Takyiwaa Manuh –
    Intellectual and celebrated Gender Equality Champion
19. Wanlov Kubolor – Major artiste
    and music star
20. Dede Amanor-Wilks – Campaigning Journalist and Economic
    Historian

List of Endorsing Groups

1. Ghanaians Against
   Genocide
2. Justice and Freedom 4
   Palestine
3. Legon Palestine
   Solidarity Activists
4. All-Africa People’s
   Revolutionary Party
5. Humanists Association of
   Ghana
6. Economic Fighters League
7. Socialist Students and
   Workers Solidarity Network
8. Jamaica Affairs Ghana
9. Rastafari Council
10. International Socialists
    of Ghana
11. African Institute of
    Strategic Studies (AISS)
12. Democracy Hub
13. Africa Water Justice
    Network
14. Ghana Water Justice
    Platform
15. Tax Justice Coalition
    Ghana
16. Rightify Ghana
17. Socialist Movement of
    Ghana
18. Palestine Solidarity
    Committee
19. Kubolor Foundation
20. Venceremos Development
    Consult
21. Handala Resiste
22. Pan African Heritage
    Youth Movement
23. Drama Queens
24. Feminist activists
    (various)
25. LGBT+ Rights Ghana
26. FemInStyle Africa
27. African Continental
    Unity Party (ACUP)
28. Speak Out Now Socialists
29. Boycott, Divestment and
    Sanctions (BDS) Ghana
30. Red Vests Movement
31. Ubuntu Reading Group
32. Ukombozi Library
33. Free Palestine Movement
    in South Africa
34. SCONET Pan Afro Media
35. Laboratory Art Studios
    (Kumasi)
36. African Youth
    Improvement Foundation
37. Activista Ghana
38. Socialist Students and
    Workers Network (University of Ghana)
39. The Socialist Movement
    of Ghana (SMG)
40. GCA – Ghana Caribbean
    Association

    (and many other collectives and
    foundations as per the full signatures list)

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Kate Janse Van Rensburg is a member of the Pan Africanism Today Secretariat.