The Voice of Hind Rajab gets record 23-minute ovation at Venice premiere

Al Jazeera’s Caley Callahan reports:  The Voice of Hind Rajab, recounting the final plea of a six-year-old Gaza girl who was brutally killed by the Israeli forces in Gaza City last year, received a more than 23-minute standing ovation at its premiere at the iconic Venice Film Festival. At Wednesday’s premiere, the emotional docu-drama focuses on recordings from the Palestinian Red Crescent Society, which tried for hours to reassure six-year-old Rajab as she lay trapped in a car where her aunt, uncle and three cousins were killed by Israeli fire in early 2024.

Jewish American filmmaker, Sarah Friedland, calls out Israel's 'genocide in Gaza' at Venice Film Festival while accepting her Lion of the Future award

METROPOLITAN CITY OF VENICE  Film Festival

Sarah Friedland won Best Debut Film at the Venice Film Festival, accepting the Lion of the Future award in the Italian city at the weekend. 

Familiar Touch won won three prizes at the festival’s 81st edition—one for best debut feature, another for Chalfant as best actress in the Orizzonti section (which the performer accepted in Italian), and a third for Friedland as best director.

Palestine Museum US: Today we mark the opening of the exhibition "Foreigners in Their Homeland: Occupation | Apartheid | Genocide"

 Dear Friends of Palestine Museum US,

Greetings.

Today we mark the opening of the exhibition "Foreigners in Their Homeland: Occupation | Apartheid | Genocide"

You are cordially invited to attend  the opening ceremony in person (in Venice, Italy) or Via Zoom.

Saturday April 20, 2024 | 18:00 Italy 19:00 Palestine 17:00 UK and 12:00 PM US EDT.

In-Person and Virtual Opening Ceremony for: 'Foreigners in their Homeland: Occupation | Apartheid | Genocide,' art exhibition, Venice, Italy

Event Program

• Keynote Address  by Faisal Saleh, Exhibit Curator and Exec Dir of Palestine Museum US (English & Italian)

• Introducing participation artists (present and absent)

• Musical performance by the Arabic language students’ choir of Ca' Foscari University of Venice

• Musical performance by Palestinian soprano Zeina Barhoum

   https://www.palestinemuseum.us/events/2024/foreigners-in-their-homeland?mc_cid=70d145acc8&mc_eid=fad2923dbf

  [AS ALWAYS PLEASE GO TO THE LINK TO READ GOOD ARTICLES (or quotes or watch videos) IN FULL: HELP SHAPE ALGORITHMS (and conversations) THAT EMPOWER DECENCY, DIGNITY, JUSTICE & PEACE... and hopefully Palestine]

  

"The exclusion of Palestinian voices contributes to an incomplete picture that undermines efforts towards understanding and peace." Faisal Saleh

 [AS ALWAYS PLEASE GO TO THE LINK TO READ GOOD ARTICLES IN FULL: HELP SHAPE ALGORITHMS (and conversations) THAT EMPOWER DECENCY, DIGNITY, JUSTICE & PEACE... and hopefully Palestine]

Faisal Saleh, an ardent advocate for art (and history) is the founder and executive director of the Palestine Museum US. He is a Palestinian from a refugee family expelled from its village in 1948.

 Demand Venice Biennale to Include Palestinian Artists Collateral Event in Biennale Arte 24

Why this petition matters

Started by Faisal Saleh

My name is Faisal Saleh, a Palestinian from a refugee family expelled from its village in 1948. As the founder and executive director of the Palestine Museum US, I am personally invested in ensuring that the voices of Palestinians are heard on international platforms. Recently, the Venice Biennale rejected our proposal for a Collateral Event exhibit featuring 23 Palestinian artists (including some from Gaza) and their 25 works of art for the upcoming Biennale Arte 2024. This exhibit titled 'Foreigners in Their Homeland' was intended to shed light on life under occupation.

This decision by one of the world's most prestigious cultural institutions not only silences these artists but also perpetuates a single narrative about Israel-Palestine relations. The exclusion of Palestinian voices contributes to an incomplete picture that undermines efforts towards understanding and peace.

In recent years, there has been growing international recognition for Palestinian art with exhibitions held at major institutions like The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) and Tate Modern. Yet, this rejection by Venice Biennale sends a discouraging message to these talented individuals who use their creativity as an outlet for expression amidst adversity.

We urge world artists and supporters of artistic freedom to join us in calling upon Venice Biennale to reconsider their decision. Let us ensure that all narratives are represented fairly at this global event - including those from Palestine - so we can foster dialogue through art rather than stifling it.

Please sign this petition urging Venice Biennale to include 'Foreigners in Their Homeland' exhibition at their upcoming event.

https://www.change.org/p/demand-venice-biennale-to-include-palestinian-artists-collateral-event-in-biennale-arte-2024?recruiter=21750756&recruited_by_id=9d125b50-1693-0130-a463-3c764e046567