Thousands Join Massive Pro-Palestine Protest at Venice Film Festival

The 82nd Venice Film Festival became the site of what organizers called “possibly the largest protest ever seen at a major film event” on Saturday, as thousands marched through the Italian city demanding an end to Israel’s military operations in Gaza.

The demonstration reportedly shut down main roads on the Lido as protesters made their way to the festival’s central area.

Newsweek reached out to the Venice Film Festival on Saturday via email for comment.

Why It Matters

The massive demonstration marks a significant escalation in efforts to politicize major cultural events over the Gaza conflict, organized by Venice4Palestine and supported by numerous groups and associations.

Venice, traditionally considered less political than other A-list festivals like the Cannes Film Festival, has now become a focal point for international activism.

Gaza’s Health Ministry reports at least 62,686 Palestinians have been killed in the war so far, which began when Hamas-led militants killed around 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducted 251 hostages in the October 7, 2023, attack on Israel.

What To Know

Demonstrators waved Palestinian flags, carried “Peace” banners, and chanted “Free, Free Palestine” while marching through the festival area.

Some protesters used stilts, music, flares and foghorns to amplify their message. Most Israeli hostages have been released in ceasefires or other deals, but 50 remain in Gaza with around 20 believed alive.

Ahead of the festival, hundreds of international filmmakers and artists had urged organizers to condemn what they called “the ongoing genocide in Gaza” and disinvite actors Gal Gadot and Gerard Butler, stars of the film In the Hand of Dante.

Israel, meanwhile, has denied it is committing genocide in Gaza.

Gadot, a supporter of Israel and former Israel Defense Forces (IDF) service member, was confirmed as not attending, though festival director Alberto Barbera said she was never planning to attend. Earlier in the week, protesters had waved Palestinian flags and held a banner reading “Free Palestine. Stop the Genocide” in front of the festival’s headquarters.

What People Are Saying

Venice4Palestine organizers said in a statement to Variety: “The Venice Film Festival must not remain an event isolated from reality, but rather become a space to denounce the genocide being carried out by Israel, the complicity of Western governments, and to offer concrete support to the Palestinian people.”

The statement continues: “In Gaza, hospitals, schools and refugee camps are being bombed; civilians are being deprived of food and water; journalists and doctors are being killed; humanitarian ships such as the Freedom Flotilla are being seized. At the same time, in the West Bank, apartheid and settler violence continue unabated. The permanent occupation of Gaza by the Israeli government marks an escalation that has gone beyond every limit of humanity and international law.”

Venice Festival Director Alberto Barbera told reporters during the jury press conference: “We have been asked to turn down invitations to artists; we will not do that. If they want to be at the festival, they will be here. On the other hand, we have never hesitated to clearly declare our huge sadness and suffering vis-à-vis what is happening in Gaza and Palestine. The death of civilians and especially of children, who are victims, the collateral damage of a war which nobody has been able to terminate yet.”

Venice jury president Alexander Payne told Variety: “I’m here to judge and talk about cinema. My political views, I’m sure, are in agreement with many of yours.”

What Happens Next?

The festival continues through the week with several films addressing Middle Eastern conflicts, including The Voice of Hind Rajab about a 6-year-old girl’s death while fleeing Gaza City last year.

Reporting from the Associated Press contributed to this article.