DUBAI: The final ceremony of the Venice Film Festival on Saturday saw multiple winners use their acceptance speeches to express solidarity with the Palestinian people and condemn Israel’s military campaign in Gaza.
“As a Jewish American artist working in a time-based medium, I must note, I’m accepting this award on the 336th day of Israel’s genocide in Gaza and 76th year of occupation,” said US director Sarah Friedland as she accepted the Luigi de Laurentiis prize for best first film for “Familiar Touch.”
“I believe it is our responsibility as filmmakers to use the institutional platforms through which we work to redress Israel’s impunity on the global stage. I stand in solidarity with the people of Palestine and their struggle for liberation,” she continued.
Kathleen Chalfant, Orizzonti Award for Best Actress winner, and Sarah Friedland (R), Lion of the Future – "Luigi De Laurentiis" Venice Award for a Debut Film and the Orizzonti Best Director award winner, pose during a photocall. (AFP)
The director’s comments were met with strong applause, Deadline reported. Her speech comes amid Israel’s 10-month military campaign in Gaza in which more than 40,000 Palestinians, including more than 16, 000 children, have been killed. The current conflict was sparked by the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel, in which 1,139 were killed, including 36 children.
Palestinian filmmaker Scandar Copti accepted the best screenplay prize in the Horizons section for his films “Happy Holidays.”
“I stand here deeply honored, yet profoundly affected by the difficult times we’re living through over the past 11 months, our shared humanity and moral compass have been tested as we witness the ongoing genocide in Gaza,” he said on stage.
“This painful reality reminds us of the devastating consequences of oppression, which is a theme in our film. Our film looks at how moral narratives can bring us together as communities, but also blind us to the suffering of others.”
Meanwhile, “The Room Next Door,” Pedro Almodóvar’s English-language debut starring Julianne Moore and Tilda Swinton, topped the Venice Film Festival and was awarded its Golden Lion award.
