The Disney+ Dilemma – Statement

You may have noticed that we don’t share news or publish features related to short films that are being streamed on Disney+. This is an active and conscious decision on the part of Short Stuff, and we wanted to share a little bit about why. 

Disney+ is one of the only mainstream, multinational platforms to stream short films. For filmmakers, this is a great opportunity – not only for those whose films end up on the site, but as a signal to the community that shorts are being valued by a major player in the film and streaming world. 

However, Disney+ is a priority target for the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement, otherwise known as BDS. Short Stuff as an entity, and the individuals who run it, are committed to Palestinian liberation. We align with the demands of BDS, and the wider Palestinian liberation movement. This is outlined clearly in our mission statement. 

For this reason, we have made the decision not to cover shorts that are streaming on Disney+, nor to publish news stories relating to Disney+ distribution releases, so as not to encourage more people towards the platform.

We are also more than aware of the impact this might have on filmmakers and the wider short film world. As the only magazine covering shorts globally, we receive lots of requests for coverage and we’ve noticed an increase in shorts being released on Disney+. We know that any means of getting a short to a wider audience should be cause for celebration, but uplifting some marginalised communities cannot come at the cost of deepening the oppression of another.

Because the film industry is structured by socio-economic hierarchies, we know all too well that short film is often a more accessible medium for marginalised and racialised filmmakers. We remain committed to uplifting, spotlighting and centering marginalised stories, creatives and communities, within the parameters of our values.

What is BDS

Inspired by the success of the South African anti-apartheid boycott movement, BDS encourages regular people to withdraw support from Israeli sporting, cultural and academic institutions and all Israeli international companies engaged in violating Palestinian rights. They also urge banks, local councils, churches, pension funds, and universities to withdraw investments from the State of Israel, and campaign governments to end arms trading with Israel. 

In relation to Disney+, BDS states: Cancel or don’t sign up for Disney+ subscriptions! Disney and its subsidiary Marvel are complicit in glorifying Israel’s regime of genocide and apartheid against Indigenous Palestinians. Marvel’s Captain America: Brave New World and Disney’s Snow White star actors Shira Haas and Gal Gadot, respectively, that have consciously and irrefutably taken up roles as cultural ambassadors for Israel, directly representing genocidal Israel’s propaganda efforts. For Captain America, Marvel and Disney are reviving the racist character of Ruth Bat-Seraph, whose decades-old backstory includes working for Mossad. Disney+ is therefore clearly implicated in enabling Israel’s genocide by dehumanizing Palestinians. 

You can read more about BDS and find a list of target companies here.