Here's our letter to them:

Istanbul, 14 August 2014

To: Vancouver Queer Film Festival

We have been very excited to be part of the 26th Vancouver Queer Film Festival and present our documentary film ‘My Child’ to audiences in Vancouver.

Unfortunately, we have been following the recent controversy regarding the festival administration’s position vis a vis the international efforts to put pressure on the Israeli government’s policy of violating the basic human rights of Palestinian people and their pinkwashing efforts.

We have read the following statements by Sins Invalid:

http://disability-justice.tumblr.com/post/94025105614/sins-invalid-pulls-film-out-of-vancouver-queer-film

by Queers Against Israeli Apartheid (QuAIA):

http://quaiavancouver.wordpress.com/2014/08/07/quaia-vancouver-statement-on-vqff-pinkwashing/

by the Simon Fraser Public Interest Research Group (SFPIRG):

http://sfpirg.ca/news/public-letter-to-vqff-re-pinkwashing/

by The Radical Access Mapping Project:

http://radicalaccessiblecommunities.wordpress.com/2014/08/09/ramp-on-pinkwashing-at-the-vancouver-queer-film-festival/

by Mik Turje, co-director of Hands In the Dirt:

http://cultivatingalternatives.com/2014/08/08/against-pinkwashing-filmmaker-open-letter-to-the-vancouver-queer-film-festival/

In light of the ongoing war against the people of Palestine by the Israeli government, we feel, as filmmakers and human rights activists with conscience, we have an obligation to come out publicly against the Israeli government’s policies and join forces with all those who oppose these policies by joining the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) Campaign. Since it is clear from the recent controversy surrounding the VQFF, the festival administration chooses not to take a public and vocal stand against the Israeli government’s unacceptable policies.

After careful deliberations as the team of producers of ‘My Child,’ including our discussions with LISTAG (Families of LGBTs in Istanbul) featured in our documentary film, we have decided that we cannot be part of Vancouver Queer Film Festival in good conscience. In solidarity with the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) Campaign and the people and organizations whose statements are included above, we would like to add our voice of protest and withdraw our documentary film from the 26th Vancouver Queer Film Festival.

We encourage the festival organizers to take an active public role in standing against the Israeli government’s oppression of Palestinian people and their pinkwashing efforts.

Can Candan
Director/producer ‘My Child’