The 78th Cannes Film Festival is in full swing, but beyond the red carpets and premieres, voices of protest are making themselves heard. A group of actors, directors, and filmmakers have come together to denounce Israel’s attacks on Gaza, describing them as “genocide.” They also voiced their shame over the industry’s silence in the face of the ongoing siege and violence.
In an open letter published by French newspaper Libération and U.S. outlet Variety, the group declared, “We cannot remain silent while genocide is taking place in Gaza“. The letter was signed by a long list of renowned filmmakers and actors, including Pedro Almodóvar, Javier Bardem, Gianni Amelio, Ralph Fiennes, Mark Ruffalo, Yorgos Lanthimos, Richard Gere, Ruben Östlund, Mike Leigh, Justine Triet, Guy Pearce, Ira Sachs, Ferzan Özpetek, Viggo Mortensen, Asif Kapadia, Mathieu Kassovitz, Sandra Hüller, Xavier Dolan, Nuri Bilge Ceylan, and Khalid Abdalla.
The group emphasized that cinema should serve as a tool to confront injustice and give voice to the oppressed.
This year’s Cannes jury is led by acclaimed French actress Juliette Binoche, who also used her voice during the opening ceremony to highlight the story of Palestinian photojournalist Fatima Hassouna. Aged just 25, Hassouna was the subject of a documentary selected to premiere at the festival. Tragically, just one day before the film’s official selection was announced, Fatima Hassouna and her family were killed in an Israeli airstrike.
However, Binoche initially did not sign the open letter released by industry professionals. Her refusal to comment on Israel or address the issue during a press conference drew attention. Yesterday, on May 16, Binoche added her name to the letter.
Meanwhile, legendary actor Robert De Niro was honored with the Honorary Palme d’Or. His acceptance speech drew attention as he took aim at U.S. President Donald Trump, delivering pointed remarks that sparked discussion both inside and outside the festival.
See also: 78th Cannes Film Festival Begins Today: Official Selection
