A leading cinema chain has reversed its decision to pull out of showing a series of films as part of an Israeli festival.

Earlier today Picturehouse Cinemas announced the cancellation of four screenings of movies in the Seret International Film Festival.

It followed the picketing of a screening of An Israeli Love Story by pro-Palestinian activists at the Duke’s at Komedia cinema in Brighton on Sunday.

Brighton’s Jewish community reacted by saying it was “very disappointed”, adding that it would “not be silenced or pushed out of the life of the city”.

But Picturehouse Cinemas later backtracked on the cancellation, attributing it to an “internal error”. No further explanation was offered.

All four screenings, including at the Duke’s at Komedia cinema, will go ahead.

The organisers of the Seret International Film Festival said they were “delighted” that the firm had reversed its decision.

Picturehouse Cinemas is owned by Cineworld, whose chief executive officer, Moshe Greidinger, and his deputy, Israel Greidinger, are both Israeli.

Brighton’s Jewish community welcomed the decision, saying it was reassured Picturehouse does not “support any kind of boycott of the arts”.