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‘Queerpanorama’ Director Reported to Berlin Police After Delivering Pro-Palestinian Speech, but Film Reps Say He Has Not Been Contacted About Investigation
'Queerpanorama' director Jun Li has prompted a probe with a pro-Palestinian speech in Berlin, but says he has not been contacted by police.
While presenting “Queerpanorama,” which premiered in Berlin’s Panorama section on Saturday, the director made a speech on behalf of the film’s protagonist Erfan Shekarriz, whom he said boycotted the festival this year in protest against the perception that the event is not supportive of Palestinians. To our knowledge, at the moment no criminal proceedings have been opened, and the Berlinale will be in close contact to find out more,” Tuttle continued, adding that the festival “is concerned about the welfare of visiting filmmakers” and has been “pursuing information from the Berlin police about the current situation.” The speech made by Li on Shekarriz’s behalf ended with: “As you watch this film, I call for everyone in this room to honor the innocent Palestinian children, mothers, fathers and our siblings, who have lost their lives and livelihoods to the German-backed occupation since 1948 … from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.”
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