Ken Loach, Marco Bellocchio, and Alice Rohrwacher urge the Venice Film Festival to condemn the genocide in Gaza.

BarcelonaCalls to take a stand on the war in Gaza are reaching the Venice International Film Festival as it approaches its opening. Through the Venice4Palestine collective, hundreds of industry professionals have launched a open letter in which they demand that the festival condemn what they call genocide and open spaces for visibility during the Festival, which runs from August 27 to September 6. The letter has garnered more than 1,500 signatures, including those of directors such as Ken Loach, Marco Bellocchio, Alice Rohrwacher, Céline Sciamma, and Abel Ferrara.

The signatories urge the festival "not to remain an isolated event" and "to raise the voice of truth about ethnic cleansing and the illegal occupation of the Palestinian territories." They also encourage attendees to use "their image and their media" to denounce the situation. As part of the actions, a demonstration has been called at the Lido for Saturday, August 30 at 5:00 p.m., starting in Piazza Santa Maria Elisabetta and ending at the Palazzo del Cinema. The objective, according to the group, is to show "a firm stance" against the conflict and denounce the "complicity of Western governments."

In response, the Biennale recalled in a statement that the festival "has always been a space for open debate and sensitivity to the most pressing problems of society and the world." As an example, it cites the inclusion of the film in competition Voice of hind Rajab, by Tunisian author Kaouther Ben Hania, which recreates the real-life appeal of a girl caught in an attack on Gaza. However, the letter's promoters described the response as "discouraging" because it makes no mention of Palestine or Israel.

This Monday, Venice4Palestine went further, demanding the withdrawal of invitations from any artist who "actively supports genocide." The statement explicitly cites actress Gal Gadot and actor Gerard Butler, who participated in a 2018 fundraising gala for the Israeli army, and asks that space be offered instead to the pro-Palestinian delegation, which is scheduled to walk the red carpet with . Gadot and Butler are part of the film's cast. In the hand of Dante, directed by Julian Schnabel, which will be screened out of competition, starring stars such as Al Pacino, Oscar Isaac, and Martin Scorsese. According to production sources, Gadot will not attend the premiere.

Screenwriter Paul Laverty arrested in the United Kingdom

While pressure mounts in Italy at the Venice Film Festival, arrests linked to the same debate are taking place in the United Kingdom. Screenwriter Paul Laverty, 68, was arrested this Monday in Edinburgh after wearing a T-shirt with the message "Genocide in Palestine, time to act." According to the newspaper The National, the shirt is associated with Palestine Action, a group that promotes direct action against arms companies and has been declared illegal by the British government.

Laverty, husband of director Icíar Boallin and collaborator of Ken Loach, spent several hours in custody before being released and is due to appear in court on September 18. His arrest is part of a police campaign that, since July, has resulted in hundreds of arrests for alleged links to the organization, after it was included on the list of terrorist entities. Among the accusations is wearing banners or clothing with the name of the group. Recently, the writer Sally Rooney reaffirmed her support for Palestine Action. Despite being banned by the British government.

According to British authorities, Palestine Action is responsible for actions such as the seven million pound damage to two military aircraft at RAF Brize Norton. The organization, for its part, maintains that its campaigns are aimed at stopping the arms trade destined for Israel.