Filmmakers Protest Tribeca Fest Sponsor

Brookfield Properties is infamous Zuccotti Park owner
By Matt Cantor,  Newser Staff
Posted Apr 27, 2012 9:59 AM CDT
Filmmakers Protest Tribeca Fest Sponsor
Occupy Wall Street demonstrators stand and cheer in front of the George Washington statue on Wall Street.   (AP Photo/John Minchillo)

A number of filmmakers are fuming over the Tribeca Film Festival's choice of sponsors. Among the festival's backers is Brookfield Properties, owner of Zuccotti Park—the former home of Occupy Wall Street. Brookfield helped empty the park of protesters in a move that violated their First Amendment rights, say the filmmakers, who argue that the park's clearing was antithetical to the free expression celebrated at Tribeca.

"Free speech squelching Brookfield Properties is major sponsor of Tribeca Film Festival. The irony!" tweeted Astra Taylor, one of the filmmakers. She and fellow Brookfield opponents have signed an open letter and launched a Facebook page protesting Brookfield's sponsorship, the New York Times reports. "The company should not be given such a high-profile platform to help re-brand themselves as supporters of artistic expression and free speech," the letter says. The fest ends Sunday. (More Brookfield Properties stories.)

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