Overview

• Dozens of activists gathered on the Lido red carpet Wednesday morning, waving Palestinian flags and displaying a banner reading “Free Palestine. Stop the Genocide.”
• Organizers say hundreds have registered for a larger march on Aug. 30 from the Santa Maria Elisabetta stop to the festival red carpet, with a motorboat arranged from Marghera for participants.
• The coalition behind the actions spans trade unions, student and feminist groups, NGOs such as Emergency and Mediterranea Saving Humans, and international networks including Extinction Rebellion and Refugees Welcome, alongside film-industry associations.
• Festival leadership responded that Venice is a forum for open discussion and highlighted the competition title The Voice of Hind Rajab by Kaouther Ben Hania, which counts Brad Pitt, Joaquin Phoenix, Rooney Mara, Jonathan Glazer, and Alfonso Cuarón among its executive producers.
• Jury president Alexander Payne declined to endorse the pro-Palestinian open letter when asked, saying he is at the festival to judge and discuss cinema.