A Ukrainian director withdrew from IDFA in protest against the boycott of Israel, calling it fascism.

The news of Alexander Rodnyansky’s departure from IDFA swept through the film industry like an unexpected wave. It was hard to imagine that he would leave the festival at the moment of his rare directorial appearance, 31 years after his last experience. Especially since Amsterdam has always been considered a place where documentaries get a second life and a new audience.

The move seems abrupt. Rodnyansky presented his film, and the interest in the project was obvious — after all, his name is associated with major production works that helped shape the market. But the decision to leave even before the program’s completion came as a surprise even to those who have worked alongside him for a long time.

IDFA has long established itself as one of the main global events in documentary cinema. The festival has existed since 1988, and films that later became part of cultural discussions have passed through it. In this context, Rodnyansky’s departure looked like an attempt to step out of a pre-prepared script.

The reaction of colleagues was varied. Some spoke of conflict, some of principles, and some — that the producer might have had reasons he decided not to disclose. No public explanations were given, which added an effect of ambiguity. Within the festival community, this raised even more questions.

Rodnyansky’s film itself is built on contemporary themes and, according to those who managed to see it, raises sharp questions. Therefore, the interest in his participation was not formal but real: the combination of experience and a new role always works on festival platforms. Hence the growing bewilderment — what exactly made him leave the game.

For decades, Rodnyansky was considered a producer who knows how to launch projects and keep the industry afloat. His transition to directing was perceived almost as a new stage, and many expected him to establish himself in this role. Questions about further steps are now multiplying because he has not yet commented on them.

Some critics see this gesture as an attempt to maintain an internal standard — not to work where conditions seem wrong. Others believe it is about personal decisions that just coincided with the festival. Public interpretations are still limited to guesses.

Rodnyansky’s next steps remain uncertain. For viewers and professionals, this is a moment of anticipation — what will happen next, what projects will appear, and how much the directorial line will become a new point of growth for him. We continue to follow the development of this story and record key changes for the audience of NAnews — News of Israel | Nikk.Agency.