Film academy chair explains decision to blackball Regev

The chairman of the Israeli film academy, Mosh Danon, says that the decision to refrain from inviting Culture Minister Miri Regev to the annual Ophir Awards ceremony doesn’t indicate an unwillingness to engage in debate, but is rather about “respect” and about celebrating the industry.

He says the ceremony, the local version of the Oscars, is on the “one day of the year when the theater community shows appreciation and respect to the artist and their creations, and commemorates those among its members who have passed on.”

According to Danon, the ceremony is also an important means of connection between filmmakers and the public.

“Regrettably, with time the ceremony has changed its character and gradually become an inappropriate wrestling ring that cheapens the event and, even worse, cheapens the artists and the work that it is meant to show appreciation and respect to.”

He says that trend was on full display during last year’s ceremony, an allusion to Regev’s walkout over the recitation of a Palestinian poem. Still, Danon adds, the decision to exclude her from Saturday night’s event is not meant as a personal slight.

“It should be emphasized that this decision is in no way indicative of a desire to disrespect the culture minister or any other politician, and should not be construed as an attempt to avoid continued debate about our various profound differences on any other day of the year,” he says.