Thousands Protest Gaza War Near Venice Film Festival

Thousands of pro-Palestinian protesters marched near the Venice Film Festival to highlight the humanitarian crisis and alleged genocide in Gaza, drawing attention away from the festival's glamour and celebrity premieres. The demonstration, organized by Venice4Palestine and other groups, coincided with an open letter signed by over 2,000 film professionals, including directors Guillermo del Toro and Todd Field, calling for the festival to explicitly condemn Israel's actions and urging the disinvitation of Israeli actor Gal Gadot and British actor Gerard Butler due to their support for Israel. The march, which remained peaceful despite heavy police presence and security measures, emphasized the cultural influence of the film industry and the protesters' demand for it to take a stand on Gaza. Festival organizers maintained that invitations to the actors were not revoked, though Gadot did not attend. The protests reflect ongoing tensions within the cinematic community, as similar calls for condemnation were made at past international film festivals like Cannes. The Venice Film Festival continues until September 6, with protesters stressing the importance of raising awareness about Gaza amid the star-studded event.