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A group of prominent film industry figures has called for the Palestinian flag to be displayed during Italy's International Venice Film Festival, citing the inclusion of films by two Palestinian directors in this year's program. The festival, now in its 83rd edition, is widely regarded as the world's oldest film festival.
With days remaining before the festival opens on Lido Island on September 2, a coalition of well-known figures operating under the name "Venice4Palestine" issued a public letter expressing support for Palestine.
The letter cited the scheduled screening of two films, "Al Mowaten Osama" directed by Ahmed Hassouna and "Hiwar ma' albahr" directed by Muayad Alayan, and called for the Palestinian flag to be flown alongside the flags of other participating countries during the festival.
The letter also called for greater transparency across the film industry and for the suspension of agreements with organizations and institutions linked to the Israeli government.
Signatories of the "Venice4Palestine" initiative include Matteo Garrone, Marco Bellocchio, Abel Ferrara, Alba and Alice Rohrwacher, Toni and Peppe Servillo, Roger Waters and Annie Ernaux, among other prominent names.
The initiative previously signed a letter last year calling on the Venice Film Festival to condemn what it described as a humanitarian crisis and genocide in Gaza.
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