A documentary film festival in Norway has been harshly criticized after it said it had joined the boycott of Israel and would not accept Israeli-made films.

“The Other Dreamers”, an award-winning documentary by the Israeli Roy Zafrani, which follows a group of severely disabled youngsters as they seek to fulfil their ambitions, has been rejected by the ‘’Human Rights Human Wrongs’’ festival, which takes place in February next year.

“I’m sorry but we can’t show this film,” an email from festival organiser Ketil Magnussen said, adding that ‘’we support the academic and cultural boycott of Israel so unless the films are about the illegal occupation, or deal with the occupation or the blockade of Gaza, or otherwise about the discrimination of Palestinians, we can’t show them.”

Zafrani, who stated that his film has not received any Israeli government funding, complained that he was being punished for the actions of his government in a way a director from no other country would be.

“Film is meant to bring people together, not drive them apart,” he told the Times of Israel.

“I see films from all over the world, from Syria to Iran, and learn about the people beyond their leadership. No one would boycott an Iranian director because of what his government does, so if he doesn’t get that sort of reception, neither should I.”

Zafrani’s film has already been screened at festivals in the United States, Spain, Italy, Australia and India.

Tor Fosse, Director of the Bergen International Film Festival, Norway’s largest, also criticised Magnussen’s stance.

“Boycotts are not the right way to drive cultural development. This is unfortunate,” he said.

The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) condemned the festival for adopting a policy of boycotting Israeli films, and called on the city of Oslo to withdraw its financial support.

“The current and prior Norwegian governments have clearly expressed their opposition to boycotts of Israel, and that policy should be implemented at all levels of government,” said Jonathan A. Greenblatt, ADL National Director. “Academic and cultural boycotts of Israel pushed by the BDS movement – as we are seeing in this particular case in Norway - aim to isolate and demonize Israel and deny the Jewish people their right to self-determination and a homeland.”

Earlier this week, ADL welcomed an apology from the Rototom Sunsplash reggae festival in Spain for cancelling the appearance of American Jewish singer Matisyahu under pressure from anti-Israel boycott activists. Following widespread condemnation for anti-Jewish discrimination, and acknowledging its mistake, the festival re-issued its invitation.

“The film festival in Oslo should follow the lead of the reggae festival in Spain, which should be a key lesson in not succumbing to the BDS movement,” Mr. Greenblatt said. “We urge the ‘Human Rights Human Wrongs’ film festival to do the same.”