Sarah Friedland highlights Gaza plight while accepting award at Venice Film Festival 2024

During her speech at the 81st Venice International Film Festival, Jewish filmmaker Sarah Friedland, winner of the Debut Film award and Horizons Best Director for "Familiar Touch", noted, "I'm accepting this award on the 336th day of 'Israel's' genocide in Gaza and 76 years of occupation." She added that film workers have a responsibility to use institutional platforms to address "Israel's" impunity on the global stage. Friedland concluded her speech by affirming her "solidarity with the people of Palestine in their struggle for liberation."