Nadine Osman
The plight of Palestinians trapped under Israel’s bombing of Gaza took centre stage at this year’s Venice International Film Festival. During the festival held from August 28 to September 7, filmmakers used the red carpet and the stage to protest and demonstrate their solidarity.
At the closing ceremony, Jewish American Director, Sarah Friedland, took a bold stand as she accepted the Best Film Award for Familiar Touch, condemning what she described as Israel’s “genocide in Gaza.”
Applauded by the jury members, Friedland emphasised that filmmakers have a duty to use their platforms to “redress Israel’s impunity on the global stage.” She further declared, “I stand in solidarity with the people of Palestine and their liberation struggle.”
This marked the latest in a series of high-profile acts of support for Palestine at the world’s oldest film festival. On opening day, the red carpet for the Italian comedy-drama Nonostante witnessed one of the earliest displays of solidarity.
Italian actor Lino Musella appeared in a Free Palestine T-shirt, while actress Laura Morante wore a royal blue kaftan, holding a fan with a handwritten message: “Stop the Gaza genocide. More than 40,000 killed, over 16,000 children.”
At the red carpet event for Wolfs, starring Brad Pitt and George Clooney, a guest made a striking statement by displaying “Free Palestine” written on her thigh.
The following day, American Director, Neo Sora, attended the photo call for his film Happyend, wearing a kaffiyeh and a Palestinian flag badge on his lapel, with a tag reading “Free Palestine.”
Sora, the son of renowned Japanese composer Ryuichi Sakamoto, was joined in showing support by producer Lia Ouyang Rusli, who carried a handbag featuring the Palestinian flag, and composer Aiko Masubuchi, who wore a red-and-white kaffiyeh draped over her shoulders.
Italian actress Anna Foglietta also demonstrated solidarity by wearing a heart-shaped pin with the Palestinian flag at the screening of The Room Next Door, starring Tilda Swinton and Julianne Moore.
During the premiere of M: Il figlio del secolo, a guest of Italian writer Antonio Scurati wore a T-shirt with the slogan ‘Stop the Massacre.’ Scurati’s 2018 novel, which inspired the series, explores the early political career of Italian dictator Benito Mussolini.
The Tunisian film Aicha also made a statement at the festival, with Director Mehdi Barsaoui, actress Fatma Sfar, and the rest of the crew holding up a banner reading “Stop the Genocide.” They were joined by Italian actor Fabio Testi, who carried a large sign in Italian, stating, “16,500 children killed in Gaza, stop the massacre.”
The Venice Film Festival faced significant backlash from the industry, as over 350 professionals signed an open letter criticising the inclusion of two Israeli films. Published by Artists for Palestine Italia, the letter condemned the participation of Al Klavim Veanashim by Dani Rosenberg and Why War by Amos Gitai, accusing them of “whitewashing Israel’s oppression against Palestinians.”
The letter, signed by prominent filmmakers like Hany Abu-Assad and Italian creatives including Enrico Parenti and Alessandra Ferrini, called out the festival for remaining silent on Israel’s actions. It declared, “The Venice Film Festival has stayed silent on Israel’s atrocities against Palestinians, which deeply outrages us.” The signatories urged the festival to reject films “complicit in art-washing Israel’s genocide against Palestinians.”
Festival artistic Director, Alberto Barbera, dismissed the calls for withdrawal, emphasising the festival’s openness to diverse political views. He stated, “We show films that reflect different perspectives. While Netanyahu’s actions in Gaza and the events of October 7 are war crimes, we cannot withdraw a film based on ideology.”
During the photocall for Al Klavim Veanashim, actress Nora Lifshiz wore a pendant advocating for a deal to release hostages in Gaza, inscribed in both English and Hebrew.
Since the outbreak of the Gaza conflict in October of last year, local health authorities have recorded over 40,800 Palestinian deaths. However, a report published in July by The Lancet suggests that the true death toll could be much higher, possibly surpassing 186,000 when considering fatalities due to starvation, disease, and civilians who remain trapped beneath the rubble.Nadine Osman
The plight of Palestinians trapped under Israel’s bombing of Gaza took centre stage at this year’s Venice International Film Festival. During the festival held from August 28 to September 7, filmmakers used the red carpet and the stage to protest and demonstrate their solidarity.
At the closing ceremony, Jewish American Director, Sarah Friedland, took a bold stand as she accepted the Best Film Award for Familiar Touch, condemning what she described as Israel’s “genocide in Gaza.”
Applauded by the jury members, Friedland emphasised that filmmakers have a duty to use their platforms to “redress Israel’s impunity on the global stage.” She further declared, “I stand in solidarity with the people of Palestine and their liberation struggle.”
This marked the latest in a series of high-profile acts of support for Palestine at the world’s oldest film festival. On opening day, the red carpet for the Italian comedy-drama Nonostante witnessed one of the earliest displays of solidarity.
Italian actor Lino Musella appeared in a Free Palestine T-shirt, while actress Laura Morante wore a royal blue kaftan, holding a fan with a handwritten message: “Stop the Gaza genocide. More than 40,000 killed, over 16,000 children.”
At the red carpet event for Wolfs, starring Brad Pitt and George Clooney, a guest made a striking statement by displaying “Free Palestine” written on her thigh.
The following day, American Director, Neo Sora, attended the photo call for his film Happyend, wearing a kaffiyeh and a Palestinian flag badge on his lapel, with a tag reading “Free Palestine.”
Sora, the son of renowned Japanese composer Ryuichi Sakamoto, was joined in showing support by producer Lia Ouyang Rusli, who carried a handbag featuring the Palestinian flag, and composer Aiko Masubuchi, who wore a red-and-white kaffiyeh draped over her shoulders.
Italian actress Anna Foglietta also demonstrated solidarity by wearing a heart-shaped pin with the Palestinian flag at the screening of The Room Next Door, starring Tilda Swinton and Julianne Moore.
During the premiere of M: Il figlio del secolo, a guest of Italian writer Antonio Scurati wore a T-shirt with the slogan ‘Stop the Massacre.’ Scurati’s 2018 novel, which inspired the series, explores the early political career of Italian dictator Benito Mussolini.
The Tunisian film Aicha also made a statement at the festival, with Director Mehdi Barsaoui, actress Fatma Sfar, and the rest of the crew holding up a banner reading “Stop the Genocide.” They were joined by Italian actor Fabio Testi, who carried a large sign in Italian, stating, “16,500 children killed in Gaza, stop the massacre.”
The Venice Film Festival faced significant backlash from the industry, as over 350 professionals signed an open letter criticising the inclusion of two Israeli films. Published by Artists for Palestine Italia, the letter condemned the participation of Al Klavim Veanashim by Dani Rosenberg and Why War by Amos Gitai, accusing them of “whitewashing Israel’s oppression against Palestinians.”
The letter, signed by prominent filmmakers like Hany Abu-Assad and Italian creatives including Enrico Parenti and Alessandra Ferrini, called out the festival for remaining silent on Israel’s actions. It declared, “The Venice Film Festival has stayed silent on Israel’s atrocities against Palestinians, which deeply outrages us.” The signatories urged the festival to reject films “complicit in art-washing Israel’s genocide against Palestinians.”
Festival artistic Director, Alberto Barbera, dismissed the calls for withdrawal, emphasising the festival’s openness to diverse political views. He stated, “We show films that reflect different perspectives. While Netanyahu’s actions in Gaza and the events of October 7 are war crimes, we cannot withdraw a film based on ideology.”
During the photocall for Al Klavim Veanashim, actress Nora Lifshiz wore a pendant advocating for a deal to release hostages in Gaza, inscribed in both English and Hebrew.
Since the outbreak of the Gaza conflict in October of last year, local health authorities have recorded over 40,800 Palestinian deaths. However, a report published in July by The Lancet suggests that the true death toll could be much higher, possibly surpassing 186,000 when considering fatalities due to starvation, disease, and civilians who remain trapped beneath the rubble.
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