Miami Beach Mayor Steven Meiner on Wednesday withdrew his plan to defund and evict local art-house theater O Cinema following widespread backlash over its screening of the Israeli-Palestinian documentary No Other Land, which won the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature.
Meiners' U-turn came after intense public outcry, protests, condemnation from filmmakers and pressure from civil rights organizations. During a tense city council meeting, where a majority of attendees voiced strong opposition to the move, Meiner announced he would no longer pursue his proposal to cut municipal funding and remove the cinema from its city-owned location.
No Other Land trailer
Among those present was Israel’s Consul General in Miami, Maor Elbaz-Starinsky, who faced boos from the crowd when he expressed concerns about the film but emphasized his opposition to artistic censorship. "I am completely against censoring art and fully support artistic freedom," Elbaz said. "But at the same time, this freedom does not show the full picture or context. We are in a very complicated situation."
The controversy erupted when Meiner, a staunch supporter of Israel, called for the city to sever ties with O Cinema, claiming the film posed a "public safety threat" amid rising antisemitism in the area. He accused the documentary of being "one-sided" and serving as "propaganda" against Israel. However, his proposal triggered fierce pushback from the arts and legal communities, as well as free speech advocates.
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During the emotionally charged city council meeting, Meiner, appearing visibly moved, defended his initial stance but ultimately backed down. "I’m human; I have feelings. I just want to do the right thing," he said, moments before retracting the proposal. Five of the six city council members had indicated they would vote against it, prompting Meiner to withdraw the measure at the last moment.
The backlash extended beyond Miami Beach. Hundreds of local filmmakers signed an open letter condemning what they called an attempt at censorship, while civil rights groups warned that defunding O Cinema would be a severe violation of the First Amendment. Legal advisors to the city also raised constitutional concerns, adding further pressure on Meiner to abandon the plan.
The meeting saw passionate opposition from residents and artists, many of whom warned of the broader implications for free speech. "We are not in a totalitarian state," one attendee said. "Censoring films because of political opinions is a dangerous threat to our democracy."
Despite the overwhelming pushback, some supported Meiner’s stance. Miami Mayor Francis Suarez joined the discussion remotely, expressing solidarity with Meiner, though his remarks, like those of Consul General Elbaz, were met with jeers.
Following the decision, O Cinema executives welcomed the city’s reversal. "The community spoke loud and clear—it will not tolerate censorship of the arts," said the theater’s executive director, Vivian Marthell. "We will continue to screen thought-provoking and challenging films as we always have."
Seeking to unify the community, Meiner closed the meeting by inviting attendees for a group photo with city officials. "Some of you may have said painful things, but I love you all," he said. "We are all Americans, and we are all proud to live in a free country."
For now, O Cinema’s place in its city-owned venue is secure until at least 2026, when its lease expires. But the controversy has left a lasting impact on Miami Beach’s civic discourse—not only about No Other Land, but also about the limits of free expression in a country that prides itself on being "the most democratic in the world."