Over 600 directors defend O Cinema in "No Other Land" screening controversy

Why it matters: Supporters of the South Beach indie cinema are speaking out ahead of an expected Wednesday vote on whether to terminate O Cinema's lease for screening "No Other Land," an Oscar-winning film.

Catch up quick: The critically acclaimed documentary, made by a directorial team of two Israelis and two Palestinians, documents the Israeli government's demolition of homes in Masafer Yatta in the occupied West Bank.

• Miami Beach Mayor Steven Meiner slammed it as a "false one-sided propaganda attack on the Jewish people" and proposed evicting O Cinema from its city-owned building after it denied his request to cancel all screenings.

What they're saying: The letter urges the city to let O Cinema "continue to operate without interference."

• "We as filmmakers invite critical discussion of any film, but your decision to punish O Cinema for screening 'No Other Land' is an attack on freedom of expression, the right of artists to tell their stories, and a violation of the First Amendment."

What's next: Ahead of Wednesday's vote, O Cinema and its supporters — from local institutions like Books & Books and Miami Light Project — will hold a rally Tuesday morning to discuss First Amendment concerns.