Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Director of Nasser Medical Complex: 25 martyrs, more than 70 wounded at aid point transferred to hospital.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Israeli bombing on aid distribution point results in 12 martyrs in a preliminary toll.
Barrack: We call upon Druze, Bedouins, and Sunnis to put down their weapons and together with other minorities build a new and united Syrian identity building peace and prosperity with their neighbors
US Special Envoy to Syria Tom Barrack: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa supported by the US have agreed to a ceasefire embraced by Türkiye, Jordan, and their neighbors
YAF spokesperson Brigadier General Yahya Saree: We carried out a top-tier operation targeting Ben Gurion Airport in Lydd with a Palestine 2 hypersonic ballistic missile
Israeli media: Israelis in the Gush Dan area and al-Quds were asked to enter shelters immediately
Sirens sound in Tel Aviv and occupied al-Quds after a missile was launched from Yemen
Sheikh Qassem: We are ready to defend ourselves if 'Israel' attacks us in a way that we believe calls for us to defend ourselves
Sheikh Qassem: "Israel" will never be handed over our weapons
Sheikh Qassem: He who refuses so and accepts humiliation, that is their own business, but for us, we will not accept humiliation. We have made great sacrifices, and our strength has helped us achieve this result

Film icons mourn Fatima Hassouna, denounce siege on Gaza at Cannes

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 16 May 2025 18:59
  • 1 Shares
3 Min Read

Over 370 artists, including Joaquin Phoenix and Pedro Pascal, honor Gaza journalist Fatima Hassouna and condemn Israeli war crimes at Cannes 2024.

Listen
  • x
  • Film icons mourn Fatima Hassouna, denounce siege on Gaza at Cannes
    Jury president Juliette Binoche, fourth from left, and jury members Hong Sang-soo, from left, Halle Berry, Jeremy Strong, Alba Rohrwacher, Dieudo Hamadi, Payal Kapadia, Leila Slimani, and Carlos Reygadas pose for photographers during the opening ceremony red carpet of the 78th International Film Festival, Cannes, southern France, Tuesday, May 13, 2025 (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)

The Cannes Film Festival this week served as a major platform to show solidarity with Gaza as over 370 actors, directors, and industry professionals signed a petition condemning the Israeli occupation’s assault on Gaza and mourning the killing of Palestinian photojournalist Fatima Hassouna. 

Hassouna, the young photojournalist featured in the Cannes-premiered documentary Put Your Soul in Your Hand and Walk, was killed alongside 10 members of her family shortly after learning her work would be screened at the prestigious festival. 

French actress Juliette Binoche, chair of the Cannes jury, delivered an emotional tribute to Hassouna during the festival’s opening ceremony. "She should have been here tonight with us," Binoche said, holding back tears. Although initially appearing hesitant to endorse the petition, Binoche later added her name, joining the growing list of signatories. 

'Shameful silence'

The petition was spearheaded by organizers seeking to amplify calls for justice amid “shameful silence” within the film industry regarding the Israeli regime’s siege on Gaza. 

Among the prominent figures lending their names are Rooney Mara, US director Jim Jarmusch, French actor Omar Sy, and Schindler’s List star Ralph Fiennes. Other high-profile signatories include Richard Gere, Mark Ruffalo, Guy Pearce, Susan Sarandon, Javier Bardem, David Cronenberg, Pedro Almodóvar, Alfonso Cuarón, and Mike Leigh. 

"We are ashamed of our industry’s failure to speak out," the letter reads, pointing to what the signatories describe as a complicit silence in the face of overwhelming civilian suffering in the besieged Palestinian enclave. 

Related News

Abu Obeida vows knock-out strikes, taking soldiers captives

'Israel' starves Gaza: 877 aid seekers slain, 650K children face death

French actor Camille Cottin and American filmmaker Michael Moore also joined the list of signatories this week, highlighting the momentum building within global artistic circles to confront the devastating toll of the war on Gaza. 

Aggression disproportionately targeting civilians

In her Tuesday speech at Cannes, Binoche also acknowledged the Israeli captives taken by the Palestinian resistance during the October 7, 2023, operation, which marked the beginning of the ongoing war. However, the letter’s signatories emphasized that the occupation’s relentless bombardment and blockade, now in its seventh month, have inflicted disproportionate harm on Palestinian civilians and must be unequivocally condemned. 

Hassouna, 25, is the subject of a new documentary titled Put Your Soul on Your Hand and Walk, directed by Iranian filmmaker Sepideh Farsi. 

Hassouna and ten relatives were killed in an Israeli air raid on her family home in northern Gaza last month, only one day after the documentary was revealed as part of the ACID Cannes selection.

Farsi welcomed the impact of her film but urged Cannes Festival organisers to condemn "Israel's" continuous assault on Gaza.

De Niro urges global action in defense of liberty

During the opening ceremony of the Cannes Film Festival on Tuesday, American actor Robert De Niro launched a scathing attack on US President Donald Trump, calling him a threat to global stability.

Receiving the honorary Palme d'Or, De Niro delivered an impassioned speech, warning that Trump's policies are not only a problem for the United States but for the entire world.

In a powerful speech, Robert De Niro declared that art unites people and threatens autocrats by seeking truth and embracing diversity.

Condemning Trump’s actions as “unacceptable", he urged global action, not passive observation, calling on people to organize, protest, and vote in defense of liberty.

  • Palestine
  • Cannes
  • Cannes Film festival
  • Israel
  • Israeli occupation
  • Israeli occupation forces

Most Read

Algerian nurse stabbed in Germany

Murder of Algerian nurse in Germany sparks outcry, demands for justice

  • Europe
  • 14 Jul 2025
Credible reports, including some from Israeli media itself, indicate that Tel Aviv had pinned its hopes on what can only be described as a delusional plan. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Batoul Chamas)

Jebraily: Iran strikes rewrote regional deterrence rules - Exclusive

  • MENA
  • 15 Jul 2025
Al-Qassam Brigades fighters confront Israeli soldiers in Beit Lahia, northern Gaza, undated (Al-Qassam Brigades Military Media)

3 Israeli soldiers killed amid Gaza battles: Israeli media

  • Palestine
  • 14 Jul 2025
Al Mayadeen: UN Palestine Inquiry members reportedly resigned

Exclusive: UN Palestine Inquiry members reportedly resigned

  • Politics
  • 15 Jul 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
The US Capitol, Wednesday, July 16, 2025, in Washington (AP)
Politics

Congress set to weaken oversight on foreign US arms sales

Only quarter of Americans say Trump policies helped them: Poll
US & Canada

Only quarter of Americans say Trump policies helped them: Poll

UK charities fund Israeli settlement expansion in occupied West Bank
Palestine

UK charities fund Israeli settlement expansion in occupied West Bank

Calls grow to remove Netanyahu from High School hall of fame
Politics

Calls grow to remove Netanyahu from high school Hall of Fame

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS