US director Sarah Friedland voiced “strong” support for the Palestinian people, specifically addressing the situation in Gaza during her acceptance speech at the Venice Film Festival.

“As a Jewish American artist working in a time-based medium, I must note, I’m accepting this award on the 336th day of Israel’s genocide in Gaza and 76th year of occupation,” said Friedland, who received the Luigi de Laurentiis Award for her film Familiar Touch.

She called on filmmakers to leverage their platforms to shed light on Israel’s military actions.

“I believe it is our responsibility as filmmakers to use the institutional platforms through which we work to redress Israel’s impunity on the global stage. I stand in solidarity with The people of Palestine and their struggle for liberation,” she added.

Palestinian filmmaker Scandar Copti, who won the best screenplay award for Happy Holidays, echoed Friedland’s concerns, describing the “ongoing genocide in Gaza” and the severe effects of oppression on the population.

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Their speeches resonated with the audience, receiving significant applause and drawing global attention to the conflict, which has reportedly resulted in over 40,000 Palestinian deaths, according to Gaza’s health ministry.