Roger Waters and Annie Ernaux Lead Call for Cultural Boycott of Israel at Venice Film Festival
Translated & summarized from Mako by baba
Roger Waters, Annie Ernaux, and other cultural leaders call for a boycott of Israel at the Venice Film Festival, demanding transparency and suspension of agreements with Israeli government-linked bodies amid the Gaza conflict's prominence in the festival.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Roger Waters, Annie Ernaux, and others call for a cultural boycott of Israel at Venice Film Festival.
- They demand transparency and suspension of all agreements with Israeli government-linked entities.
- The letter urges displaying the Palestinian flag throughout the festival.
- The call is backed by pro-Palestinian and BDS groups from Italy and France.
- The festival features Palestinian films amid the ongoing Gaza war.
- Venice Film Festival has not yet responded to the boycott demands.
Prominent cultural figures including Nobel laureate Annie Ernaux, Pink Floyd founder Roger Waters, and director Céline Sciamma have signed an open letter urging the Venice Film Festival to implement a cultural boycott of Israel. The letter, published by the Venice4Palestine collective, demands the festival cease agreements with entities linked to the Israeli government and calls for the Palestinian flag to be displayed throughout the event.
The signatories advocate for transparency in all aspects of the film industry, from financing and co-productions to distribution, festivals, and sponsorships, and propose suspending all contracts with Israeli government-affiliated institutions. They describe the boycott as a pressure tool and a form of resistance. Other notable signatories include photographer Nan Goldin, screenwriter Paul Laverty, and Palestinian actor Saleh Bakri. The letter has garnered support from pro-Palestinian and BDS organizations in Italy and France.
This political controversy arises amid the ongoing war in Gaza, which is prominently reflected in the festival's artistic program. This year, two Palestinian films are featured officially, and the documentary "NAZA" by Yuval Avraham and Rachel Tzur, addressing the calculated killing of Palestinian civilians in Gaza, was added to the competition. Last year, the film "The Voice of Hind Rajab," also about Gaza, won the Silver Lion award after a 22-minute standing ovation. The Venice Film Festival has not yet responded to the boycott demands.
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