David Irving screening cancelledAT 4.00 PM today the operator of the Bughouse Omniplex informed the Melbourne Underground Film Festival (MUFF) that Mr Ron Goldschlager, son of the landlord, of the building housing the Bughouse, Mr. Albert Goldschlager, had decided that after four successful screenings of MUFF at their venue they could not allow the fifth to go ahead this evening, being the David Irving film The Search for Truth in History over what was described as concerns regarding ‘safety’.
The MUFF has been effectively locked out and prevented from screening the film.
Notwithstanding the decision of the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal decision on Monday involving Michael Lipshutz (President of the Jewish Community Council of Victoria) and MUFF (Lipshutz v MUFF– copy of decision attached), threats received by and directed at MUFF and others connected with the running of the Festival, controversy and protest has forced the Festival to question its ability to screen this video in a safe environment for our patrons and volunteers and forced the cancellation.
MUFF has fought for freedom of speech both in our courts and in the public domain. This last minute manoeuvre by the landlord is a shock and disappointment to the Festival as are the threats against MUFF and its organisers and the behaviour of protesters.
MUFF screened a Jewish documentary, Relentless, as suggested by Mr Lipschutz and the JCCV as an offer of conciliation after the hearing last Monday, with the screening of ‘The Israel Palestine Conflict: A Palestinian Perspective‘ on Wednesday night.
The Festival organisers have decided to cancel the screening from the festival program as it does not have a venue that is able and willing to screen the video.
We apologise for the inconvenience to our patrons due to circumstances beyond our control.
MUFF, Thursday, July 10, 2003, 7pm
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