Ken Loach has declared that “every penny” of money earned from his latest film via Israeli distributors will go to “grassroots Palestinian organisations”.
The award-winning director was responding to critics who pointed out that while he was criticising the rock band Radiohead for playing in Tel Aviv, his film I, Daniel Blake was being screened in cinemas there.
In a letter published by the Guardian on Tuesday, Mr Loach, Rebecca O’Brien, the film’s producer, and Paul Laverty, its screenwriter, said that they “reject[ed] the allegation that any of us have exempted ourselves from the cultural boycott. Our film I Daniel Blake was sold to Israel by our sales agent, and is showing there now.
“We will guarantee that every penny from the sale of I Daniel Blake that comes to Sixteen Films or the sales company from the Israeli distributors will go to grassroots Palestinian organisations fighting oppression, after consultation with the BDS movement.
