Creative Community for Peace (CCFP) and the Simon Wiesenthal Center – More than 200 people attended the LA premiere of the documentary “Wish You Weren’t Here,” hosted by Creative Community For Peace (CCFP) and the Simon Wiesenthal Center.
The film, by filmmaker and New York Times #1 best-selling author Ian Halperin, examines the actions and motivations of former Pink Floyd frontman Roger Waters, a major supporter of the anti-Israel Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement, in the context of the troubling rise in global anti-Semitism.
The film features interviews with leading figures including celebrated lawyer Alan Dershowitz, former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair, Ambassador Ronald S. Lauder, and CCFP co-founder and chairman/CEO of Spirit Music Group, David Renzer.
Following the screening, a panel of influential Hollywood executives held a Q&A. Panelists included: David Renzer; Rick Rosen, WME Founding Partner and Head of Television; David Lande, Esq., entertainment attorney with Ziffren Bittenham; and filmmaker Ian Halperin. It was moderated by Moriah Films writer/director and Academy Award® winner Richard Trank. In attendance was Howard Rosenman, producer of the film, Call Me By Your Name.
Capturing the theme of the evening and the importance of ending the cultural boycott of Israel, David Renzer stated during the panel, “We as the creative community are here to support our artists and to support the idea of art and culture…This isn’t about politics. This is about culture and arts, and that’s the message we have to remember…This is about the power that art, music, and culture have to be healing in this time when we need it more than ever.”
Together, the panelists have dealt with boycott related issues for Justin Timberlake, Alicia Keys, Scarlett Johansson, and many other high-profile artists.The full Q&A can be viewed here. Creative Community for Peace (CCFP) is an organization comprised of prominent members of the entertainment industry who promote the arts as a means to peace, support artistic freedom, and counter the cultural boycott of Israel. We understand the power that our music, our films, our television shows, and all arts have. We encourage artists to participate, rather than to shun, to express rather than to suppress. If anything, turn up the music, expose our art to wider audiences, and encourage people from all cultures to interact, communicate and inspire peace and understanding.
www.creativecommunityforpeace.com
The Simon Wiesenthal Center is a global human rights organization researching the Holocaust and hate in a historic and contemporary context. The Center confronts anti-Semitism, hate and terrorism, promotes human rights and dignity, stands with Israel, defends the safety of Jews worldwide, and teaches the lessons of the Holocaust for future generations. With a constituency of over 400,000 households in the United States, it is accredited as an NGO at international organizations including the United Nations, UNESCO, OSCE, Organization of American States (OAS), the Latin American Parliament (PARLATINO) and the Council of Europe. Headquartered in Los Angeles, the Simon Wiesenthal Center maintains offices in New York, Toronto, Miami, Chicago, Paris, Buenos Aires, and Jerusalem.www.wiesenthal.com