TORONTO— A letter signed by an international group of artists and published online Thursday protests the Toronto International Film Festival’s decision to spotlight the city of Tel Aviv and the work of 10 Israeli filmmakers, citing complicity with the “Israeli propaganda machine.”

The letter claims that TIFF organizers have, intentionally or not, been part of a million-dollar “Brand Israel” PR campaign to change negative perceptions about Israel. That campaign’s alleged purpose is to “take the focus off Israel’s treatment of Palestinians” and refocus it on achievements in medicine, science, and culture, the letter says. It was signed by more than 50 prominent filmmakers, writers, artists, and academics, including Ken Loach, David Byrne, Naomi Klein, Alice Walker, Jane Fonda, Wallace Shawn, and Danny Glover. A TIFF director says the Israeli government played no role in developing the festival’s new City to City program, which launches this year with Tel Aviv as its focus.

Read more at the Globe and Mail.