Remembering Hugh Kitson’s legacy

Documentary film-maker  Hugh Kitson was laid to rest in Melbourne on Tuesday, he had been suffering with illness for some time. At the end of the memorial service to honour him, the Kaddish was read by a member of the Jewish community – such was the respect and fondness felt towards him. The pastor of his church in England made the following comments “he was kind and gentle, always ready to listen and had a spiritual insight about the land and the people of Israel. He was able to write about this with clarity and authority and was unassuming in his relationship with others. It was remarkable to us that he was always able to interview and rub shoulders with such important and influential people in law and governments”.

And indeed it was!  Over several years Hugh spent time in Israel filming factual historic accounts from international legal experts and historians, including Dr. Deborah Lipstadt, Dr. Einat Wilf, Professor Avi Bell, Professor Moshe Kedar, Ambassador Danny Danon, Dr. Jacques Gauthier and Natasha Hausdorff to name a few. Hughs knowledge of modern Israel was profound, and events such as the San Remo conference of 1917 were given wide coverage in Parts 1 and 2 of Whose Land?.  Both films were narrated by his good friend Col. Richard Kemp.

Douglas Murray, in his review of Whose Land Part 2 said “Whose Land dismantles the lies that have been told about Israel since 1948. In so doing it mounts a defence of Israeli legitimacy through masterly presentation from Colonel Richard Kenp and other experts. They adduce fact after fact to show that Israel, far from violating international law is upholding it. Words like “occupation” and “settlement” have become popular smears against Israel, but they have no legal basis whatsoever. Hugh Kitson has directed a production that exposes these specious legal arguments for what they are: vicious anti-Israel propaganda. I would recommend Whose Land? to anyone seeking the truth about Israel and the wider Middle East.”

I was fortunate to have had a decade long friendship with Hugh, introduced by my friends The Evangelical Sisters of Mary. Visiting them one day in Camden NSW, Sister Anastasia (who in another life would have been a great PR maven) said ‘we know this man who makes films about Israel, he is a Christian Zionist and loves the Jewish people. You work in film, are a passionate Zionist, always talking about Israel and on top of that  you are both ‘poms – you need to meet! “

It was the beginning of a beautiful friendship and Hugh became a brother to me. Many visits to our homes in the UK and Australia and regular long phone conversations to discuss rising antisemitism, Israel, world affairs, politics, history and the demise of Once Great Britain. Hugh & Noreens small church in Sussex were the main fund-raisers for his films. I always found this to be both remarkable and concerning. I was unsuccessful in being able to raise money myself within the Jewish community until AJA came generously on board, with a far greater reach.

AJA ‘got it’ – the importance of Hughs work in presenting Israels rights to her land under international law. They held some highly successful fund-raising events, hence Whose Land?/2 was able to be finally post-produced and brought to the screen.

In February, Hugh and Noreen came to Sydney for the special event screening of Whose Land?/2 at the Roseville Cinema. On a day out, they asked to visit Bondi and there we met with two young Kesser Torah school students manning the Chabad booth. I introduced Hugh, saying “this gentleman who is a Christian, makes film about the truth of Israels existence and its rights to the land under international law”. The boys were astonished. “Can we see it?” they said, “can we show it at our school?”  “Of course” said Hugh and gave them the website link, whilst inviting them to the screening. I asked the younger of the two boys why he thought this film was important. He looked at us wistfully, thought, paused and said “because it will un-blind the blind”.

From the mouth of babes –  it was a very moving moment. Just a few weeks before his passing Hugh met with Ambassador Hillel Newman in Canberra while visiting with the Israel Allies Foundation. The ambassador accepted copies of Hughs films from him and has told me he will be happy to screen them in the near future. He has also made a moving statement about that meeting in an AJA tribute video.

My dearest bro’ Hugh Kitson, may you rest in peace with your beloved Lord Jesus for eternity.

Elaine Black is a former commercials tv producer working in London and Sydney.