Screening of 'October 8' happening at Jacob Burns Film Center following letter writing campaign
Getting that movie to run there included a letter writing campaign after the film center initially refused to play it.
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A film about antisemitism was screened Thursday night in Pleasantville after weeks of controversy.
"October 8" was shown at the Jacob Burns Film Center.
Getting that movie to run there included a letter writing campaign after the film center initially refused to play it.
"When he told me no, they turned it down, I was like that's not right," says Rye Brook resident Hanna Poplausky.
The theater previously ran the documentary, "No Other Land," which some consider critical of Israel.
After that, Poplausky said she wanted to see if the film "October 8" could be played there, too.
She said she reached out to the film studio behind it, but they said the theater turned it down.
So she started a letter writing campaign.
"We put a letter out, we used our words, we used our rights," Poplausky told News 12.
From there, it grew so big, the film center ended up playing it.
Having this movie play at the film center was especially important for Francine and Robert Goldstein.
A couple weeks ago, they say they were verbally attacked by a worker at the theater when they tried to buy tickets.
The couple's attorney says the employee is no longer with the film center.
"You really need to take a stand before it gets out of hand and that's the lesson I grew up with so it's very important that I show I am taking a stand," said Francine Goldstein.
A spokesperson with the Jacob Burns Film Center released a statement prior to Thursday night's screening:
“As with the more than 400 films we showcase each year, our goal remains steadfast: to offer a cultural forum that welcomes audiences, students, and filmmakers of all backgrounds—a space for discovery, dialogue, and timely conversations. We look forward to welcoming the community tonight to the screening of October 8, followed by a conversation with the director, Wendy Sachs, and Myra Clark-Siegel, Regional Director for American Jewish Committee Westchester/Fairfield.”
