Statement in Support of Freedom of Programming

As representatives of the Art House Convergence and International Documentary Association (IDA), we find the threat made by the mayor of Miami Beach to pull the funding and lease of O Cinema gravely concerning. Programming decisions by independent film exhibitors must not suffer political interference in the form of First Amendment violations. It is doubly concerning that the documentary No Other Land, which has been critically acclaimed by the highest levels of the global film industry, including an Oscar and four awards at the 2024 IDA Documentary Awards, has triggered such a censorious response. Threats to defund cinemas and film festivals based on their programmatic content runs directly counter to the right to free speech for art, artists, and exhibitors as a whole. If these threats are carried out, it is not only filmmakers but also audiences who will suffer.

Art house theaters play a critical role in our society as a vital space for free expression. They are cultural institutions where disparate ideas, perspectives, and creative visions provide audiences and communities the opportunity to engage in civil discourse around important social, political, and cultural issues. It is in the spaces of art house cinemas that we, as a society, have the chance to reflect, debate, and challenge one another in meaningful and generative ways. O Cinema’s lease from the government precisely illustrates the value of independent cinemas as public spaces, which is reflected in the many other cultural institutions in this country operating in government-owned spaces. Threatening the existence of their programming, or restricting access to films based on undue political influence or outside pressures, undermines the very essence of free speech the U.S. was founded on.

Suppressing content not only denies audiences access to indispensable works, it normalizes opposition to–and even violence against–those with opposing viewpoints, rather than creating a safe space to explore areas of collective agreement.

It is imperative to protect the First Amendment rights of art house cinemas and the communities they serve, ensuring they remain a sanctuary for thought-provoking, boundary-pushing content that reflects the needs of our society. To let the decision to close O Cinema stand is a direct affront to the United States’ foundational value of free speech, the constitutional rights afforded by our democracy, and the commitment public officials have made to serve their constituents and their communities.

Sincerely,

Dominic Asmall Willsdon, Executive Director, IDA
Kate Markham, Managing Director, Art House Convergence

Resources and Actions

• Toolkit: Save O Cinema
• For filmmakers: Open Letter to the City of Miami Beach
• For audiences: One click to send an email with the text of above open letter to the Mayor and Commissioners