Artists demand Venice Film Festival cut ties with 'Israel', fly Palestinian flag

• Artists demand action on Palestine ahead of the Venice Film Festival. 

Ahead of the opening of the 83rd Venice International Film Festival on September 2, hundreds of artists, including Pink Floyd co-founder Roger Waters, Nobel laureate Annie Ernaux, and filmmakers Matteo Garrone, Isabel Coixet, and Céline Sciamma, have signed an open letter demanding concrete steps in support of Palestine. 

Organized by the activist collective Venice4Palestine, the open letter, signed on Friday, calls on the festival and its parent body, the Venice Biennale, to end complicity with the 'Israeli' state amid its ongoing assault and occupation of Palestinian land.

The petition specifically demands full transparency across film production and distribution chains, the immediate suspension of partnerships with institutions linked to the 'Israeli' government, and formal protections for industry workers who choose to sever ties with 'Israeli' state-backed entities. 

Flying the Palestinian flag

To mark the inclusion of two Palestinian feature films in this year's official program, Ahmed Hassouna’s Citizen Osama (Al Mowaten Osama) and Muayad Alayan’s Conversation with the Sea (Hiwar ma' albahr), signatories are demanding that the festival fly the Palestinian flag on Lido Island for the entire duration of the event alongside other national flags. 

Read more: Olivia Rodrigo wears handmade Palestinian dress at charity festival

Palestine-themed panel

In parallel with the official festival, Venice4Palestine announced it will host a panel on Sept. 8 within the Giornate degli Autori section titled "And Yet Gaza Continues to Burn – What Is the Point of Seeing If We Do Not Act?". 

The event will feature international law experts, representatives from the Global Sumud Flotilla aid initiative, and members of the Italian USB Mare union, who have mobilized dockworkers to halt arms shipments heading to 'Israeli' forces.