An open letter published ahead of the Venice Film Festival called for Palestine to be represented at the festival by its flag. More than 200 people from the worlds of cinema and culture signed the letter.
The text prepared by the Venice4Palestine initiative noted that Ahmed Hassouna's Al Mowaten Osama (Citizen Osama) and Muayad Alayan's Hiwar ma’ albahr (Conversation with the Sea) were included in the festival's official selection. The initiative called for the two productions to be represented by the Palestinian flag, in a manner similar to the recognition given to films from other countries.
The open letter called on festival organizers to fly the Palestinian flag throughout the event alongside the flags representing other films in the official selection.

Call to boycott institutions linked to the Israeli government
The text called on cinema, media and culture workers to show solidarity with the Palestinian people and urged a boycott of institutions and organizations linked to the Israeli government.
Venice4Palestine called for diplomatic, cultural and economic isolation to continue until the Israeli government complies with international law and the occupation and colonization of Palestinian territories come to an end.
Notable signatories of the open letter
The signatories included Italian directors Matteo Garrone and Marco Simon Puccioni, actors Guy Pearce, Indya Moore and Adele Haenel, musician Roger Waters, and Nobel Prize-winning author Annie Ernaux.