Film Industry Voices Concerns Over Gaza Conflict
More than 350 individuals from the film industry, including Hollywood stars Richard Gere and Susan Sarandon, expressed their outrage over what they describe as “genocide” in Gaza through an open letter released just before the Cannes festival began.
“We cannot stay silent while genocide occurs in Gaza,” the letter declared, launched by various pro-Palestinian activist organizations and published in the French newspaper Liberation and the American magazine Variety.
Among the signatories are acclaimed Spanish filmmaker Pedro Almodovar and former Cannes awardee Reuben Ostrand, both of whom criticized the killing of Gazan photojournalist Fatima Hassouna.
Hassouna, who was only 25 years old, is featured in a documentary titled “Get Your Soul and Walk,” directed by Iranian filmmaker Sepide Falsi, which will be shown at Cannes on Thursday. She tragically lost her life last month during an Israeli airstrike that also claimed the lives of ten family members.
Falsi welcomed the impact of her film but urged the Cannes organizers to publicly denounce Israel’s ongoing bombardment of Palestinian territories. “We need a real statement,” she said. “It doesn’t make sense to say, ‘Festivals aren’t political.’”
Initially, it was reported that this year’s Cannes jury president, Juliet Binoche, had signed the petition. However, her spokesperson clarified that she does not support it, and her name wasn’t included in the published list.
Other notable signatories include British director Jonathan Glazer, who won an Oscar for his 2023 film on Auschwitz, US actor Mark Ruffalo, and Spanish actor Javier Bardem.
Festival Highlights
The Cannes Festival kicks off on Tuesday in the French Riviera, showcasing three films that Robert De Niro is associated with that highlight the devastation caused by the conflict in Ukraine. These documentaries will be screened on “Ukrainian Day,” with one featuring Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
While there’s no similar programming planned for the Gaza conflict, Hassouna’s film aims to honor her legacy, according to festival organizers. Arab and Tarzan Nasser will present a fiction feature set in Palestinian territory from 2007 as part of the festival.
The opening film on Tuesday night will be “Leave One Day,” directed by newcomer Amelie Bonnin, with De Niro receiving an honorary award.
Controversies Surrounding the Festival
De Niro is a vocal critic of former President Donald Trump, often expressing frustration about the current political climate in the U.S. Trump’s recent call for a 100% tariff on films “produced in foreign lands” has stirred significant concern within the cinematic community, leaving many unsure of how such policies could be enacted.
Cannes director Thierry Frémaux discussed the festival’s esteemed American film offerings on Monday, emphasizing that the U.S. remains an influential force in cinema.
There are also off-screen issues in France affecting the festival, particularly the sexual harassment case involving French film icon Gérard Depardieu, which may overshadow the event.
Exciting Premieres and Debuts
While independent films are the backbone of Cannes, some programs will be handed to major Hollywood studios to ensure high-profile releases get the spotlight. Tom Cruise is expected to return to the festival on Thursday for the premiere of the latest “Mission: Impossible” installment and promote “Top Gun: Maverick.”
The festival will also showcase a number of debut films from actor-directors, such as Scarlett Johansson’s “Eleanor the Great” and Kristen Stewart’s “The Chronology of Water.” Organizers denied reports of banning provocative nude dresses from the red carpet, though full nudity remains prohibited due to French law.
