We are not a sponsor of Israeli Film Festival – Kempinski

Kempinski Hotel Gold Coast City Accra says it has no sponsorship ties to the Israeli Film Festival.

The management of Kempinski clarified in a statement that its name and logo were wrongly used in promotional materials for the Israeli Film Festival.

The event is scheduled to take place from September 16–20, 2025, at Silverbird Cinema, Accra Mall.

According to the hotel, Kempinski is not a sponsor of the festival and has never authorized the use of its brand for the event. The management described the inclusion of its logo and name among the sponsors as false and misleading, stressing that the decision to publicly respond was necessary to protect the hotel’s reputation.

“The hotel has only recently become aware that its name and logo have been included on the event’s advertising and promotional materials. This information is inaccurate and was published without the hotel’s knowledge or authorization,” the statement said.

Kempinski further explained that it has formally contacted the Israeli Embassy and the organizers of the festival to demand the immediate removal of its brand from all publicity materials. The hotel emphasized that while it values cultural diversity and dialogue, it cannot condone any misrepresentation of its brand.

“Kempinski Hotel Gold Coast City Accra has no involvement in the Israeli Film Festival. We have taken steps to ensure our brand identity is corrected and disassociated from this event,” management added.

The clarification from Kempinski comes at a time when nearly 400 individuals and organizations in Ghana are mounting pressure on Silverbird Cinema and its partners to cancel the Israeli Film Festival. The coalition, made up of civil society groups, professional networks, academics, artists, students, and faith-based organizations, has described the upcoming festival as a “Zionist propaganda event” aimed at whitewashing what they call genocide and apartheid in Gaza.

Among the signatories to the campaign are several high-profile Ghanaians, including veteran journalist Kwesi Pratt Jnr., former CHRAJ boss Emile Short, filmmaker Nii Kwate Owoo, academic Audrey Gadzekpo, scholar Dzodzi Tsikata, trade unionist Kwasi Adu-Amankwah, media freedom advocate Kwame Karikari, and musician Wanlov the Kubolor. Others lending their voices include Oliver Barker-Vormawor of Democracy Hub, Pan-Africanist Akyaaba Addai-Sebo, youth activist Hardi Yakubu, and feminist scholar Prof. Akosua Adomako Ampofo.

The coalition has also directed its concerns toward companies listed as sponsors and partners of the festival, including SAF STL Amandi Foundation, Rolider, Sienna Services, EON, Kempinski Hotel, and the University of Media, Arts and Communication (UniMac). With Kempinski distancing itself from the event, campaigners say they now expect the other organizations named to clarify their positions and take responsibility for any misrepresentations in the publicity materials.