The Band’s Visit movie poster. Photo: Reelz.

JNS.org – Egypt’s Culture Ministry canceled a planned screening of an award-winning Israeli comedic film, The Band’s Visit, Haaretz reported Wednesday.

A screening of the 2007 film about an Egyptian band visiting Israel was scheduled for last Sunday at the cultural center in the city of Beni, Egyptian media reported.

The film’s director, Eran Kolirin, told Haaretz that the screening was a private and unofficial event.

“A few people, maybe students, organized the independent screening of the film, probably in some community center. In fact, because it was unofficial, it was exciting and gladdening. I received an invitation for the event on Facebook, and after that one of the organizers approached me and asked if I could send a video, so they could show me before the screening or afterward. But before I managed to do it, a journalist called to ask for my response to the cancellation,” Kolirin said.

The Band’s Visit has won eight Ophir Awards, the Israeli equivalent of America’s Academy Awards. The specific motive behind the screening’s cancellation was unclear from the Haaretz report.