VINCE: US filmmaker Sarah Friedland voiced “strong” support for the Palestinian people, specifically addressing the dire situation in Gaza during her acceptance speech at the Venice Film Festival.
Friedland, who received the Luigi de Laurentiis Award for her film Familiar Touch, highlighted the ongoing conflict and urged fellow filmmakers to use their platforms to advocate for justice.
In her speech, Friedland made a direct reference to the ongoing conflict, noting, “As a Jewish American artist working in a time-based medium, I must note, I’m accepting this award on the 336th day of Israel’s genocide in Gaza and 76th year of occupation.”
Friedland’s speech called on filmmakers to utilize their influence to address what she termed Israel’s “impunity” on the global stage. “I believe it is our responsibility as filmmakers to use the institutional platforms through which we work to redress Israel’s impunity on the global stage,” she asserted.
“I stand in solidarity with the people of Palestine and their struggle for liberation.”
The director’s comments were echoed by Palestinian filmmaker Scandar Copti, who won the best screenplay award for Happy Holidays. Copti also highlighted the severe impact of the conflict, referring to it as an “ongoing genocide in Gaza” and emphasizing the significant toll on the Palestinian population.
The speeches by Friedland and Copti received considerable applause and sparked global conversations about the Gaza conflict. According to Gaza’s health ministry, the conflict has resulted in over 40,972 Palestinian deaths, mostly women and children.
