First Run Features has acquired US rights to Israeli director Yoav Shamir’s anti-semitism documentary Defamation, following its US premiere at Tribeca on Thursday night [April 23].

Shamir takes a provocative and irreverent approach to the notion of anti-semitism in the film and is renowned for his critical view of Israeli policy towards Palestinians. Sandra Itkoff produced.

“While I did not set out to slaughter that cow, even the most sacred of cows needs to be shaken up every once in a while,” Shamir said.

First Run Features president Seymour Wishman called Defamation “a brave film that takes on a tough, sensitive subject, and manages to do so in a compelling and entertaining way.”

Defamation will screen at Hot Docs in Toronto in May. First Run plans a theatrical release in the autumn.