Laura Blejman-Kadar, a survivor of the October 7 attacks, wears a dress with images of hostages and a scarf that reads “Bring them home” at the Cannes Film Festival 2024. Photo credit: Yara Nardi

A private screening of the Israeli film bearing witness Abruptly canceled due to serious security threat. The 47-minute film, organized by Westend Films co-founder Sharon Harel-Cohen, was to feature raw, graphic footage of the October 7 Hamas attack in southern Israel.

The screening was held for a small group of industry professionals on May 17 at the exclusive Hotel Belle Plage, about a mile from the Palais des Festivals. Attendees were warned beforehand about the film’s violent content, which was captured via body cameras and CCTV, and informed that the location would only be revealed shortly before the event for security reasons.

However, just an hour before the screening, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) issued an order to cancel the event, citing a security threat. “We haven’t received any additional details,” said Maya Amsellem, co-founder of WestEnd Films. The sudden cancellation disappointed organizers and attendees, including Gadi Wildström, who was scheduled to attend but understood the alleged safety concerns.

Reports suggest that the screening was also cancelled due to procedural flaws, with the IDF being informed only two hours before the event. Also, a planned screening in Paris was cancelled after news broke of the deaths of several hostages depicted in the film.

The festive red carpet was mostly devoid of political rhetoric, except for Laura Blejman-Kader, a survivor of the Oct. 7 attacks, who on May 15 wore a yellow dress bearing the faces of those taken hostage by Hamas and a band that read “Bring them home.”

The festival also featured increased security measures, including a record number of staff, checkpoints and 17 AI-powered surveillance cameras around the Palais des Festivals. This vigilance led to the Palace entrance being briefly closed on May 18 due to a suspected bomb in a bag.