The Filmin documentary controversy escalated significantly this week. Staff at the streaming platform arrived at their Barcelona headquarters to find the building vandalised. Graffiti accused the company of collaborating with ‘Spanish repression’. This incident follows a heated online dispute regarding Filmin’s decision to stream a documentary featuring police testimonies from the 2019 Catalan independence protests.
Furthermore, the graffiti appeared prominently on the office façade. It read ‘Collaborators with Spanish repression’. This targeted vandalism occurred shortly after Filmin added Ícaro: la semana en llamas to its catalogue. The film focuses on police officers’ accounts of suppressing the 2019 demonstrations. These protests erupted after the Supreme Court sentencing of pro-independence leaders.
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Filmin documentary controversy: Editorial independence questioned
Jaume Ripoll, Filmin’s editorial director, expressed dismay at the attack. He acknowledged the subject’s sensitivity but defended the platform’s right to host diverse viewpoints. According to Ripoll, the company recognises the events of October 2019 remain an ‘open wound’ for Catalan society.
Moreover, Ripoll stated that programming a film does not equate to endorsing its perspective. He emphasised Filmin does not censor content based on ideology. The platform hosts over 11,000 titles, including documentaries with opposing views on the conflict. Examples include Ciutat Morta and L’endemà. Therefore, the platform maintains a broad catalogue for debate. Meanwhile, Barcelona continues other cultural developments, such as the Parc de la Ciutadella transformation into a science hub.
Additionally, the platform clarified it did not produce or distribute the controversial piece. The documentary is licensed for a limited period and will leave the catalogue on 31 January. In a statement reported by Ara Cat, Ripoll noted cinema should serve as a tool to understand reality. He argued it should not merely confirm existing beliefs.
Nationalist group claims responsibility for vandalism
The graffiti included the signature ‘NS!*X’, linking the act to the collective Nosaltres Sols! This group takes its name from a nationalist organisation active in the 1930s. The same collective gained attention earlier in the summer for a similar action. They targeted an ice cream shop in Gràcia that refused to serve customers in Catalan.
On social media, the group describes itself as ‘young nationalists… born from the spirit of 2019’. The vandalism occurred after intense criticism on social networks from figures associated with the independence movement. This included former CUP leader Antonio Baños.
Despite the backlash, media reviews suggest the documentary holds value even for critics. A review in Ara described the film as ‘pure propaganda’ with ‘laughable’ musical choices. However, it noted the film contains significant protest footage. It also offers insight into the ‘victimhood’ narrative adopted by the police forces involved.
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