As the Venice Film Festival kicks off this week, activists hope to redirect the spotlight from the Hollywood stars arriving on the Lido to Gaza, with an anti-war demonstration planned for one of the festival’s biggest nights.
The group Venice4Palestine has called on the festival and its parent organization, the Venice Biennale, to end partnerships with groups supporting the Israeli government and withdraw invitations to actors Gerard Butler and Gal Gadot. On the festival's opening day on Wednesday, protesters will hold a news conference in the morning front of the famed red carpet. Protesters also plan to march Saturday evening toward the festival, which is hosting the world premiere of Guillermo del Toro’s “Frankenstein” that night.
