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Contact: Lucy Rendler-Kaplan | Arkay Marketing & PR
Phone: 847.347.2102 | Email: [email protected]
Chicago Screening of Kosha Dillz’s Documentary Canceled Just Hours Before Showtime Due to “Intimidation” — Wilmette Theatre Steps Up to Host Sold-Out Premiere
Chicago, IL — May 14, 2025 — A scheduled film screening and panel discussion of Bring the Family Home, a documentary by Jewish artist and activist Kosha Dillz, was abruptly canceled just three hours before showtime by FACETS, the longtime independent arts theater in Chicago. The venue cited “intimidation” as the reason for the last-minute cancellation.
The event, co-hosted by the Chicago Jewish Alliance, was set to premiere an unfinished cut of Bring the Family Home, which explores the rise of anti-Semitism on U.S. college campuses—with a focus on student encampments and tensions at DePaul University and Northwestern University. The screening was intended to be both a community event and a filming opportunity for the documentary’s final cut.
Instead, the night became a real-time reflection of the documentary’s core message: Jewish voices being excluded from intellectual and public discourse.
‘Exclusion is the new form of bigotry,’ said Kosha Dillz, whose real name is Rami Matan Even-Esh. ‘FACETS’ decision to cancel this film under pressure speaks volumes about the silent discrimination that exists in spaces that claim to champion diverse perspectives.’
Within hours of the cancellation, the Wilmette Theatre opened its doors to host the screening, moving the event from a downtown Chicago venue to a North Shore suburb with no time to spare. The screening went forward with a packed house, followed by a panel conversation with Kosha Dillz, Jeremiah, and Michael Kaminsky, who appear in the film.
What the Documentary Is About
Bring the Family Home is an ongoing documentary project highlighting the rise of anti-Semitism in the U.S., particularly on college campuses. It features first-hand accounts of Jewish students navigating hostilities, exclusion, and violence, as well as reflections on Israeli-American identity and the October 7 Hamas attacks. The film takes a sobering, nuanced look at freedom of expression, Jewish identity, and what it means to feel unsafe in spaces that claim to be inclusive.
Watch the trailer here: https://www.youtube.com/
Press images available: ronitfilms.
A Community Silenced, Then Amplified
The Chicago Jewish Alliance, who helped coordinate the screening, issued a powerful statement following the cancellation:
‘FACETS still proudly displays this on their website: ‘For 50 years, FACETS has been a haven for bold cinematic exploration, fearlessly championing the power of great films to expand perspectives…’ Unless you’re Jewish.’
‘We tried to screen a documentary about Jewish families and hostages. They canceled it just hours before showtime. Then they blocked us on social media. This isn’t brave. It’s cowardice hiding behind a film reel.’
The organization’s statement has since gone viral, prompting both outrage and support across social media and press circles.
Kosha Dillz Responds
The artist, best known for his freestyle rap, viral collaborations, and sobriety advocacy, is no stranger to public platforms. He’s performed at Knicks games, toured with Matisyahu, and even dropped a diss track against Kanye West in protest of anti-Semitic rhetoric. But never before, he says, has he been canceled in his own community—especially one that claims to celebrate bold conversation.
‘I’ve performed at venues all over Chicago — from Metro to Park West — since 2008,’ Dillz said. ‘To be silenced for trying to show a film about Jewish families, hostages, and peace? That’s a first. And it’s unacceptable.’
What’s Next for the Film
The Wilmette screening now becomes part of the documentary’s final cut, with the cancellation itself now documented as part of the story. Dillz plans to return to Chicago in the coming weeks to complete filming and engage with more students, educators, and community members.
We’re all on the same team of ‘let’s get along,’ ‘let’s stop the war,’ ‘let’s return the hostages,’ Dillz said. I just didn’t expect that message to be so radical that it would get me canceled at a 50-year-old institution for my very first film screening.’
To schedule an interview with Kosha Dillz, request a screener, or cover this developing story, please contact:
Lucy Rendler-Kaplan
Arkay Marketing & PR
847.347.2102
[email protected]
About Kosha Dillz:
Kosha Dillz (Rami Matan Even-Esh) is an Israeli-American artist, rapper, and activist known for his improvisational rap performances, cultural advocacy, and outspoken stance on Jewish identity, recovery, and inclusion. Bring the Family Home is his first documentary film.
Image by Benjamin Dorfman
