MONTREAL — A film screening held on a Concordia University campus by Cinema Politica Concordia has prompted criticism and scrutiny following allegations that the event promoted organizations and individuals linked to extremist and terrorist affiliated groups.
The event featured a screening of the film How to Kill a War Machine, which portrays Palestine Action, a United Kingdom based activist group. Palestine Action was officially designated as a proscribed terrorist organization under United Kingdom anti terror legislation, making it illegal to support or promote the group within UK jurisdiction.
The screening was organized by Cinema Politica Concordia, a media organization that receives partial funding from the Canada Council for the Arts, a federal Crown corporation that supports cultural initiatives across Canada.
Concerns have been raised about the use of public funding to support programming that critics argue promotes extremist narratives or affiliated groups.
“Palestine Action is a proscribed group in the UK under anti terror legislation,” said a statement provided in response to the screening. “It is troubling that Cinema Politica Concordia chose to platform glorification of this group on a Concordia campus, especially since Cinema Politica is supported by Canada Council for the Arts, a Canadian government corporation. Canada must ensure that initiatives it backs via this funding vehicle do not become platforms for extremist, violent and terror adjacent propaganda.”
The event was co-presented with the Palestinian Youth Movement, an international activist organization that has also been the subject of scrutiny by government authorities.
According to a 2015 report by France’s General Directorate for Internal Security cited in a 2019 French court proceeding, the Palestinian Youth Movement was described as affiliated with the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine. The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine is designated as a terrorist organization by Israel, the United States, Canada, and the European Union.
In addition, Israel’s Ministry for Diaspora Affairs reported in 2024 that the Palestinian Youth Movement has “close ties with the PFLP terror group and its affiliates, as well as with the SJP organization linked to Hamas.”
The event also featured keynote speaker Tara Alami, whose past public statements have drawn criticism. According to archived social media posts from 2021, Alami responded to a report of attacks on Israeli civilians by writing, “We’ll do better next year inshallah.”
In a subsequent post, she wrote that Israelis were “occupying my land and killing my people, so yeah I’m going to hope for their death.” Her account was later suspended.
On February 28, 2023, Alami also posted an image with the phrase “SETTLER DOWN” alongside insignia associated with the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, according to archived material reviewed by observers.
The film and its screening have drawn broader attention to the role of publicly funded arts organizations and their responsibilities regarding programming content.
Cinema Politica Concordia operates as part of a wider international network of Cinema Politica chapters. The organization describes its mission as supporting socially engaged political cinema and facilitating dialogue on global political issues.
The Canada Council for the Arts, which provides funding to numerous cultural organizations across Canada, operates at arm’s length from the federal government. Its funding programs are intended to support artistic expression and cultural development.
The controversy surrounding the Concordia screening highlights ongoing debates about academic freedom, artistic expression, and public accountability.
Universities in Canada, including Concordia University, have increasingly faced scrutiny over campus events related to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Jewish students and community organizations have raised concerns about campus environments and the potential normalization of rhetoric perceived as hostile or threatening.
At the same time, universities have maintained that academic institutions serve as venues for open discussion and diverse perspectives, subject to institutional policies and legal requirements.
The Canada Council for the Arts and Concordia University had not publicly issued detailed responses regarding the specific screening at the time of reporting.
The incident reflects broader tensions in Canada and internationally regarding the intersection of public funding, political activism and the boundaries of acceptable discourse in academic and cultural institutions.
As scrutiny continues, observers say the case may prompt further examination of funding oversight, programming policies and institutional responsibilities in publicly supported cultural initiatives.
