Boycotts, censorship and the role of art in activism (panel & film screening)

Artists make choices. In 2016, musicians supporting LGBT rights boycotted North Carolina; actors promoting diversity boycotted the Oscars; and writers opposing Islamophobia boycotted PEN America's award to Charlie Hebdo. Boycott is used by cultural producers as a peaceful, effective tactic in support of social justice. Yet, the Palestinian call for Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions is met with attempts to silence Palestinian and pro-Palestinian voices. This panel brings together cultural producers for a deep conversation about the relationship and distinctions between censorship and BDS.

We are thrilled to be screening the world premiere of John Greyson's latest video: BULLDOZER

(Part of the Toronto Palestine Film Festival - TPFF)

BIOS:

Elle Flanders is a filmmaker and artist based in Toronto. She was raised in Montreal and Jerusalem and holds a PhD in Visual Arts. She is an alumnus of the Whitney Independent Study Program where she mentored with Mary Kelly and Martha Rosler.

Ru Freeman is an author whose creative and political writing has appeared internationally. She wrote the novels A Disobedient Girl (2009) and On Sal Mal Lane (2013) and is the editor of the ground-breaking anthology, Extraordinary Rendition: American Writers on Palestine (2015). She is also a contributing editorial board member of the Asian American Literary Review.

Rehab Nazzal is a Palestinian-born multidisciplinary artist based in Toronto and Bethlehem. Her video, photography and sound works deal with the violence of war and settler colonialism. Nazzal’s work has been shown in Canada and internationally in both group and solo exhibitions and screenings.

Richard Fung is an award-winning Trinidad-born, Toronto-based video artist and cultural critic. He joined the faculty of OCAD in 2003 and teaches in Integrated Media and Art and Social Change

• Please order your free panel ticket online or at box office.

LINKS: http://www.tpff.ca/program-123/2016/boycott-censorship-and-arts & https://www.facebook.com/events/1163999236998074/