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
write to
David Irving