‘Whose Land?’ Tribute to Christian Zionist Filmmaker Hugh Kitson

A Farewell in Australia to Filmmaker Hugh Kitson, Who Devoted His Life to Telling the Truth of History & Israel’s Rights to the Land Under International Law

British documentary film-maker Hugh Kitson devoted his life to making films about Israel and its rights to the land under international law. He was laid to rest in Melbourne Australia last week. I was fortunate to have had a decade long friendship with Hugh, introduced by my friends The Evangelical Sisters of Mary, who were founded in Darmstadt after WW2 as virtual apologists to the Jewish people. Visiting them one day in Jerusalem, Sister Anastasia (who in another life would have been a great PR maven) said ‘we know this man who makes films about Israel, he is a Christian Zionist and loves the Jewish people. You work in film, are a passionate Zionist, always talking about Israel and on top of that  you are both ‘poms’ (British) – you need to meet! “  It was the beginning of an endearing friendship and Hugh became a brother to me.  Many visits to our homes in the UK and Australia and regular long phone conversations to discuss rising antisemitism, Israel, world affairs, politics, history and the demise of Once Great Britain.

Douglas Murray who reviewed Hugh’s recent film Whose Land?  wrote, ‘Whose Land?’ dismantles the lies that have been told about Israel since 1948. In so doing it mounts a defence of Israeli legitimacy through masterly presentation from Colonel Richard Kenp and other experts. They adduce fact after fact to show that Israel, far from violating international law is upholding it. Words like “occupation” and “settlements” have become popular smears against Israel, but they have no legal basis whatsoever. Hugh Kitson has directed a production that exposes these specious legal arguments for what they are: vicious anti-Israel propaganda. I would recommend Whose Land? to anyone seeking the truth about Israel and the wider Middle East.”

Hugh and his wife Noreen had retired to Melbourne in recent years to be with their son and grandchildren. Last week at the memorial service to honour him, the Kaddish was read by a member of the Jewish community – such was the respect and fondness felt towards him. The pastor of his church in England which raised funds for ‘Whose Land?’ said by video link “he was kind and gentle, always ready to listen and had a spiritual insight about the land and the people of Israel. He was able to write about this with clarity and authority and was unassuming in his relationship with others. It was remarkable to us that he was always able to interview and rub shoulders with such important and influential people in law and governments”.

And indeed it was! Over several years Hugh spent time in Israel and Europe filming factual historic accounts from international legal experts and historians, including Dr. Deborah Lipstadt, Dr. Einat Wilf, Professor Avi Bell, Professor Moshe Kedar, Ambassador Danny Danon, Dr. Jacques Gauthier and Natasha Hausdorff to name a few.

the importance of Hughs work in presenting Israels rights to her land under international law, recorded by experts for posterity.

Hughs knowledge of modern Israel was profound, and events such as the San Remo conference of 1917 were given wide coverage in Parts 1 and 2 of Whose Land?.  Both films were narrated by his good friend Col. Richard Kemp.

In February, Hugh and his wife Noreen came to Sydney for the special event screening of Whose Land? Part 2, which was attended by 300 people. They asked if we could  visit Bondi Beach to pay tribute to the horrific massacre that took place there at a Chabad Chanukah celebration on 14 December 2025, where 15 people were murdered.  Since that event, the Chabad of Bondi have maintained an information hub by the Menorah memorial and there we spoke to two young Kesser Torah school students who were manning the booth. I introduced Hugh, saying “this gentleman who is Christian, makes films about the truth of Israels existence and its rights to the land under international law”. The boys were astonished. “Can we see it?” they said, “can we show it at our school?”  “Of course” said Hugh giving them the website link and inviting them to the screening. I asked the younger of the two boys why he thought this film was important. He looked at us wistfully, thought, paused and said “because it will un-blind the blind”.  From the mouth of babes –  it was a very moving moment. Just a few weeks before his passing Hugh met with Australias’ new Ambassador Hillel Newman in Canberra while visiting with the Israel Allies Foundation. The ambassador accepted copies of Hughs films from him and plans to screen it in the near future.