SBS rejects Jewish film

Jewish Australian Screen Fund (JASF) director Jamie Bialkower has criticised SBS for rejecting the film Mezuzah Man on the grounds that the content could be “inflammatory across some communities”.

The short film, written and directed by Jacob Melamed, depicted life in Bondi amid antisemitism and was financed by the JASF.

SBS’s Colleen Meldrum declined the film.

“While we really respect the integrity of the film, we’ve decided to pass on this occasion,” she wrote to Bialkower on February 10. “We’re currently well stocked in the short film space … We also need to be mindful of our very broad and diverse audience, and at this time – alongside capacity considerations – we’re hesitant to move forward with content that could be received as inflammatory across some communities.”

Bialkower told The AJN, “Jewish filmmakers should not have to accept the casual indifference of being told by public broadcasters that Jewish stories could be considered inflammatory by other communities. There is a verified institutional resistance to funding Jewish narratives across wide segments of the screen sector, but change can only start with acknowledging that there is a problem.

“Antisemitism is being normalised at an alarming rate, and the urgency to see ourselves on Australian screens is only growing. Authentic representation and visibility can be a powerful source of empathy on screen … Ensuring that our stories are being written, funded and seen in this country is one of the greatest challenges that we face.”

Bialkower wrote to SBS managing director Jane Palfreyman on February 11, expressing concern about the lack of Jewish narratives within SBS programming and questioned its commitment to its charter, requiring it to reflect multiculturalism.

When the correspondence was made public, Palfreyman responded, “SBS strongly rejects the suggestion that it does not commission Jewish content.”

She wrote, “SBS has a longstanding record of commissioning and broadcasting Jewish-authored and Jewish-themed content.

“This includes … the upcoming Australia Uncovered series, Shut Your Big Fat Mouth John Safran and a new documentary fronted by a Jewish Australian filmmaker that explores Australia’s attempt to prosecute alleged Nazi war criminals.

“The language about how Mezuzah Man might be received was regrettable and not consistent with SBS’s acquisition criteria.

“SBS remains committed to serving all Australians, including Jewish Australians, and stands firm against antisemitism.”

Bialkower told The AJN that Palfreyman’s examples refer to documentaries, while he had emphasised SBS’s lack of commissioning Jewish-themed narrative stories.