Cannes Film Festival on edge as pro-Palestine sentiment on rise
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The festival will also not distribute any pins representing solidarity with Gaza or Israeli captives despite the Israeli pavillion remaining open.
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A sign showcasing the 77 International Cannes Film Festibval on a billboard (AFP)
The 77th Cannes Film Festival is shaping up to be a wild ride as the war on Gaza rages.
Variety has reported that attendees and planners expect protests, politically charged speeches, and pins and flags in solidarity with Palestine and Ukraine, which is in dire need of military help to beat Russia.
The city of Cannes has banned protests during the 11-day-event and private security is scheduled to be monitoring competition jurors including Eva Green and Lily Gladstone, to prevent activists from reaching them.
The festival will also not distribute any pins representing solidarity with Gaza or Israeli captives.
Thierry Frémaux, the chief of the festival reported during a press conference a night before the festival opens that it was decided the festival would be hosted "without polemics," ensuring that the main focus of the even is only film and that "other polemics" are not of concern.
That has not prevented Cannes-bound artists like Omar Sy, from commenting on social media. There is nothing that justifies the killing of children in Gaza. or anywhere,” he posted recently on Instagram, urging elected authorities to end the attack on Rafah.
In the past, the festival has allowed expressions of politics like the appearance of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky via video in 2022 where he was applauded for promising victory against Russia.
Although Zelensky was not allowed to make an appearance last year and a Ukrainian influencer was booted from the steps in a protest against Russia, it could be that the higher tensions around the current war on Gaza are forcing Cannes to take harsher measures.
Francois Desrousseaux, the general secretary, revealed that there has been 15 security briefings this year compared with only 4 or 5 last year.
Desrousseaux also revealed there would be AI-powered cameras around the Palais and AI safety gates, allowing a quicker security clearance for guests.
The Israeli Pavilion, located inside the Marché, is likely to stay open, with activities commemorating October 7, as well as two captive family members in attendance.
'Israel's' Eurovision final rehearsal hits sour note outvoiced by boos
As "Israel" continues its genocide against Palestinians in Gaza, its contestant Eden Golan reportedly encountered a wave of loud boos during the Eurovision rehearsals in Sweden, as shown in video footage, just before her scheduled performance in the finals of the song contest on Saturday.
Thousands of demonstrators supporting the Palestinian cause and protesting the ongoing Israeli actions in Gaza congregated in the Swedish city of Malmo on Thursday to oppose "Israel's" participation in the Eurovision Song Contest.
Before Golan's performance in the semi-final, more than 12,000 pro-Palestinian demonstrators gathered on the streets, as per the Swedish police.
Climate activist Greta Thunberg was among the attendees at the pro-Palestinian demonstration, emphasizing, as quoted by BBC, the moral imperative to speak out and take action against Israeli aggression in Gaza.
"If we are tens of thousands of people flooding the streets of Malmo when Eurovision is taking place, saying we will not accept this to continue, then it's a very strong signal – and it does make a difference," Thunberg said.
Nine pro-Palestinian protesters were arrested as police cracked down on the protest, dispersing crowds with pepper spray.
