Venice4Palestine Demands Concrete Action as Waters, Ernaux Sign Open Letter
The Venice4Palestine collective issued an open letter on Friday urging the Venice Film Festival to take concrete action in support of Palestine. Signatories include Pink Floyd co-founder Roger Waters, Nobel laureate Annie Ernaux, and directors Isabel Coixet and Matteo Garrone. The letter requests the Palestinian flag be flown throughout the event and calls for broader industry engagement. The 83rd Venice Film Festival runs from September 2 to 12, featuring two Palestinian films in its official selection and a new documentary, 'NAZA,' in competition.
Key points
- Roger Waters, Annie Ernaux, Isabel Coixet, Matteo Garrone, and other cultural figures signed the Venice4Palestine open letter.
- The letter calls for the festival to take 'concrete action' and fly the Palestinian flag during the event.
- Two Palestinian films are in the official selection: Ahmed Hassouna's 'Citizen Osama' and Muayad Alayan's 'Conversation with the Sea.'
- The documentary 'NAZA' by Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor was added to the competition lineup on Monday.
- A panel titled 'And Yet Gaza Continues to Burn' is scheduled for September 8 under the Venice Days section.
Background
This follows a similar initiative by Venice4Palestine last year, which urged organizers to withdraw invitations from figures supporting Israel. The current festival is expected to be politically charged, with recent archive coverage noting debates over AI, geopolitical themes, and the inclusion of the documentary 'NAZA,' which examines Israeli actions in Gaza.
Why it matters
The petition highlights growing pressure on major cultural institutions to address geopolitical conflicts, particularly regarding Palestine. The involvement of high-profile figures like Roger Waters and Annie Ernaux signals a broader cultural movement demanding tangible responses from the film industry to the ongoing crisis in Gaza.
What to watch
The Venice Film Festival has not yet responded to the letter. The festival is scheduled to run from September 2 to 12, with the 'NAZA' documentary premiering in competition on September 10 and the Venice Days panel taking place on September 8.
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