The 83rd Venice Film Festival brought some of the biggest names in cinema to the Italian island once again, with stars walking the red carpet, films premiering, and major conversations taking place both on and off screen. But alongside the glamour, Palestine remained part of the conversation, with filmmakers, actors, and festival attendees finding different ways to show their support.
From an open letter calling for action to Palestinian films in the official selection and subtle symbols on the red carpet, here are some of the ways Palestine was represented at this year’s festival.
Venice4Palestine Calls for Action
Ahead of the festival, celebrities and members of the film community backed an appeal from the Venice4Palestine collective, calling on festival organisers to take “concrete action in support of Palestine.” The open letter was issued before the festival began on Wednesday and marked the second consecutive year that the collective has made a similar appeal, keeping pressure on the festival to take a stronger stance on the situation in Gaza.
Two Palestinian Films Take the Spotlight
Palestinian cinema also had a place in Venice’s official selection this year, with two films bringing Palestinian stories to one of the world’s most prestigious film festivals.
Ahmed Hassouna’s Citizen Osama follows a photographer attempting to balance his life as a father and journalist while documenting the realities of the war in Gaza. Meanwhile, Muayad Alayan’s Conversation With the Sea tells the story of Kamal, a 60-year-old Palestinian man who finds himself caught in a complicated web of Israeli bureaucracy.
Both films offer very different perspectives, but place Palestinian experiences and stories at the centre of the cinematic conversation.
George Clooney Defends Mark Ruffalo’s Right to Speak
George Clooney also addressed the backlash surrounding fellow actor Mark Ruffalo’s outspoken views, particularly his criticism of the proposed Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery merger and the Ellison family’s links to Israel.
Speaking in Venice ahead of receiving the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement, Clooney said he supported Ruffalo’s right to express his views, even when he did not necessarily agree with them. “I support Mark Ruffalo’s ability to speak freely,” he said, stressing the importance of free expression and disagreement within a democracy.
Susan Sarandon Opens Up About Supporting Palestine
Susan Sarandon continued to speak openly about the impact her pro-Palestinian activism has had on her career.
Speaking at the festival, the Oscar-winning actor said she continues to lose film roles because of her outspoken support for Palestinians, noting that parts of the industry still avoid hiring her because of her activism. Her comments once again highlighted the professional consequences some actors say they have faced for publicly expressing support for Palestine.
A Watermelon Symbol Appears on the Red Carpet
One of the more subtle displays of support came from Italian actress Greta Scarano, who opened the festival with the traditional lagoon swim.
Walking along the shoreline, Scarano carried a watermelon-shaped fan featuring colours associated with the Palestinian flag: green, white, red and black. The watermelon has become a widely recognised symbol of Palestinian solidarity, particularly online, where it has often been used as an alternative to displaying the Palestinian flag directly.
At a festival known for its glamorous red carpets and carefully watched fashion moments, the small gesture stood out as another reminder that Palestine continues to find its way into cultural spaces around the world.
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