Facets Cinema, a small but longstanding independent film venue in Chicago, is facing backlash from Jewish organizations after abruptly canceling the premiere screening of ״Bring the Family Home," a documentary by rapper and filmmaker Kosha Dillz that addresses campus antisemitism.
The screening, scheduled for Tuesday night, was organized in collaboration with the Chicago Jewish Alliance and other local groups. According to the American Jewish Committee (AJC) Chicago, the cancellation came just hours before the event.
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Pro-Palestinian rally in Chicago
(Photo: SCOTT OLSON / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / AFP)
In an email sent to the sponsors, a theater representative cited “concerning messages” from patrons and claimed that staff members felt unsafe - despite organizers having arranged professional security for the evening.
Later that day, however, Facets released a public statement on Instagram offering a different explanation. The cancellation, they said, stemmed from “public posts made by Kosha Dillz and the overall tone surrounding the event,” which they argued did not align with the cinema’s values or its commitment to fostering a “safe, inclusive and respectful environment.
"We are firmly not an antisemitic organization. The cancellation of tonight’s event was not an act of antisemitism, but a decision rooted in our commitment to ensuring that hate has no place in our cinema.
"Based on the public posts made by Kosha Dillz and the overall tone surrounding the event, we determined that proceeding would not align with our values or our responsibility to protect the safety and well-being of our community. We reject antisemitism in all forms - just as we reject Islamophobia, anti-Palestinian racism, and any form of hate or dehumanization."
While the response did not cite specific examples, sources familiar with the situation said that Facets privately expressed discomfort over what it viewed as anti-Muslim undertones in some of Dillz’s public videos. Dillz, who frequently shares satirical and provocative content on social media, has emerged as a high-profile figure in grassroots pro-Israel advocacy since the October 7 Hamas attacks.
Jewish groups, including AJC Chicago, accused the theater of silencing Jewish voices under the pretext of inclusivity. “Facets cannot claim to be upholding a ‘safe, inclusive and respectful’ environment while silencing a film that explores the challenges faced by a vulnerable community,” AJC said in a statement. “By refusing to show the documentary, Facets failed miserably on that account.”
The indie film includes footage of anti-Zionist student activism and pro-Palestinian encampments at DePaul and Northwestern universities - two campuses located near the cinema. According to AJC, these incidents, coupled with what they described as an inadequate institutional response, have left Jewish students feeling unsafe and unheard.
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The abrupt cancellation has sparked debate across Chicago’s cultural and Jewish communities, especially in light of the growing tensions on U.S. campuses over the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Jewish students at DePaul and Northwestern have publicly voiced concern over what they view as antisemitic rhetoric and a lack of protection from their universities.
An alternative venue - the Wilmette Theatre in suburban Chicago - stepped in to host the screening that same night. According to those in attendance, the event proceeded without disruption.
Kosha Dillz, born Rami Matan Even-Esh, said he remained undeterred. In a post responding to the cancellation, he wrote: “I won’t let this silence our story,” and pledged to waive the ticket price for future screenings for those unable to pay. He confirmed that "Bring the Family Home" will be screened later this month in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, from May 28 through June 8.
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Pro-Palestinian rally in Chicago
(Photo: John Moore / Getty Images North America/ AFP)
Facets, known locally for its curated programming and youth film education initiatives, now finds itself at the center of a broader cultural controversy over who gets to define safe spaces – and whose narratives are excluded in the process. According to AJC, recent incidents on campuses — and the institutions’ failure to respond adequately — "have left deep concerns about the safety and well-being of Jewish students, and their voices have the right to be heard.”
The venue later issued a public statement apologizing and promising to explore options for rescheduling. "FACETS Film Forum respects the First Amendment, its protections of free speech and the right to express views through film. We regret any unintended offense our decision to cancel a privately organized, public film screening caused the filmmaker, those seeking to attend the event, and members of our community who have experienced or witnessed oppression or discrimination in any form," the statement read.
"The filmmaker contacted us yesterday evening to inquire about the potential rescheduling of the film screening for another date, and we plan to reach out today to explore this possibility."