France's Deneuve, over 900 cinema figures denounce Israel's ‘genocide' in Gaza
France's Catherine Deneuve has joined over 900 cinema figures who have signed an open letter denouncing the 'genocide' in Gaza and the movie industry's failure to speak up about it, organizers told AFP on Friday.
The petition began circulating during the buildup to the Cannes film festival and had garnered around 380 names including 'Schindler's List' star Ralph Fiennes when the event kicked off on May 13.
An update issued by organizers Friday included more than 900 names, including Deneuve, British director Danny Boyle and Swedish actor Gustaf Skarsgard.
The initiative, called 'Artists for Fatem,' was sparked by the killing of Palestinian photojournalist Fatima ('Fatem') Hassouna, who was the subject of a documentary that premiered at Cannes week.
Hassouna, 25, was killed in an Israeli air strike along with 10 relatives in her family home in northern Gaza last month, the day after the documentary was announced as part of the ACID Cannes selection.
'As artists and cultural players, we cannot remain silent while genocide is taking place in Gaza and this unspeakable news is hitting our communities hard,' the open letter says.
Other signatories include Juliette Binoche, who is chairing the jury at Cannes, Rooney Mara, Jonathan Glazer, US indie director Jim Jarmusch, 'Lupin' star Omar Sy, Richard Gere, Susan Sarandon, Pedro Almodovar and Mark Ruffalo.
Wikileaks founder Julian Assange, who is in Cannes to promote a documentary about his life, has also signed the letter, organizers said Friday.
He posed for photographers on Tuesday with a T-shirt bearing the names of killed Gaza children.
On Thursday, Gaza's health ministry said Israel has killed at least 3,613 people since it resumed strikes on March 18, taking the war's overall death toll to 53,762, mostly women and children.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Asharq Al-Awsat
6 hours ago
- Asharq Al-Awsat
PSG Fans Invade Pitch for Souvenirs after Champions League Triumph
Paris St Germain supporters waited a long time to celebrate a Champions League trophy and when the occasion finally arrived on Saturday, thousands poured onto the pitch, with many taking home pieces of the goal and pitch as mementos of an unforgettable night. PSG stormed to a 5-0 thumping of Inter Milan in a one-sided final in Munich and after seeing their team lift the cup, large numbers of fans behind the goal streamed onto the pitch, with stewards struggling to maintain order. Police formed a cordon to keep them from going any further than the penalty area, much as PSG had done with Inter for much of the night during the game in an utterly dominant display. Many fans began tearing apart the goal net, while some ripped up parts of the pitch, with others intent on celebrating with the players who had just received the trophy. Fans were not alone in wanting to take home a souvenir of the greatest night in their club's history, with PSG midfielder Joao Neves also seen cutting off a piece of what little was left of the goal net. The PSG supporters created a deafening noise throughout the match and before kickoff as they roared their team on to victory. After the final whistle, they unveiled a huge banner in honor of Luis Enrique's daughter Xana, who died in 2019. While the pitch invasion at the Allianz Arena was peaceful, in Paris wild celebrations were marred by clashes with police.
Asharq Al-Awsat
9 hours ago
- Asharq Al-Awsat
From Galacticos to Glory: How Luis Enrique Transformed PSG into Champions League Winners
Luis Enrique got rid of the Galacticos at Paris Saint-Germain and then became one himself. The Spanish coach, or perhaps he should be called an architect or a visionary, orchestrated a 5-0 destruction of Inter Milan in Saturday's Champions League final. The match was so clinically one-sided that it resembled a training session against an amateur team, rather than a three-time European Cup winner. Passing, movement, energy. Tireless pressing, forwards dropping back to defend, wingers protecting fullbacks. Was this really PSG? Yes. All of these attributes were on display in Munich as Luis Enrique joined an elite list of coaches to win the Champions League with multiple clubs. His other success was with Barcelona in 2015 — a 3-1 win against Juventus — but Saturday was sweeter. "This is the time for a great party and to make the most of this moment," Luis Enrique said. "I felt this connection with the players and the fans, I think it was a very strong connection throughout the season." Before Luis Enrique's arrival at the start of last season, such teamwork and unselfishness were not the hallmarks of PSG. Far from it. PSG had become increasingly complacent with star names like Neymar, Thiago Silva, Lionel Messi, Edinson Cavani, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Kylian Mbappé. All fine players, some even great, yet all came and went without winning Europe's biggest club prize. Consequentially, the impatience of the club's Qatari owners led to a merry-go-round of coaches. When Luis Enrique took charge, he boldly went against what PSG's owners had done since taking charge 14 years ago. It was no longer about pandering to star power and, even more importantly, it wasn't about who the new coach signed but rather who he sold. Out went Neymar and midfielder Marco Verratti, who made too many headlines off the field amid regular reports about their lifestyle and a penchant for partying. Then, during the offseason, came the biggest jolt of all as Mbappé — the club's record scorer — joined Real Madrid. How would PSG cope in the French league, let alone the Champions League, without a player they had overly relied on for so long? Rather well it turns out, although it took time and courage. What were the turning points in PSG's season? On a rainy autumn night in London, Ousmane Dembélé was dropped by Luis Enrique and PSG lost to Arsenal 2-0 in a dismally poor performance. Luis Enrique made it clear he was looking for dedication in his squad and this was non-negotiable, which is why he dropped Dembélé. Critics lambasted his decision and doubts continued as PSG struggled in the new-look Champions League, losing to Atletico Madrid and Bayern Munich. As baffling a decision it was to some, it nevertheless showed that Luis Enrique was not going to give in to player power, like so many of his predecessors. Instead of demanding a transfer or moaning, Dembélé said nothing. A few months later, he was transformed into a prolific scorer and is now a potential Ballon d'Or winner. The other turning point came on Jan. 22. PSG faced possible elimination from the Champions League group stage if it lost at home to Manchester City, the 2023 champion. The nightmare scenario saw PSG trailing 2-0, with no Mbappé to bail the team out. What happened next ultimately defined their season, as the club's young players took the initiative and turned an inevitable-looking defeat into a 4-2 win. Noticeably, PSG's redesigned attack clicked with four different scorers rather than relying too heavily on one. The young guns carried on as a resurgent PSG added to its domestic double with the Champions League title for a remarkable treble, which Luis Enrique first achieved with Barcelona 10 years ago. It was deeply symbolic that PSG's best player against Inter was 19-year-old Désiré Doué, who set up the first goal and then scored twice. Also, there were four different scorers on the night — just like against City. The last PSG goal was scored by Senny Mayulu, a 19-year-old talent who grew up in the northeastern Parisian suburb of Le Blanc-Mesnil. In memory of his daughter Luis Enrique's daughter, Xana, died six years ago at the age of nine. When he was asked about his daughter by broadcaster Canal Plus after the match, Luis Enrique pointed to his heart and said: "It's here every day of my life, whether we win or lose." PSG fans held up a banner with Xana's name after the match, and Luis Enrique changed his clothing to put on a T-shirt of the foundation he started in her memory.
Al Arabiya
10 hours ago
- Al Arabiya
Paris St Germain humbles Inter Milan 5-0 to win first European Cup
Teenager Desire Doue scored twice to inspire Paris St Germain to its first European Cup triumph with a crushing 5-0 victory over Inter Milan on Saturday, the biggest winning margin in the final of the continent's premier club competition. After losing the 2020 final to Bayern Munich, Luis Enrique's PSG side, who teetered on the brink of elimination in the league phase, finally claimed the trophy. For all the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app. PSG's young team achieved what the likes of Lionel Messi, Neymar and Kylian Mbappe could not do in their colors as they became only the second French side to win the trophy after Olympique de Marseille in 1993. 'Making history was a goal from the start of last season,' Luis Enrique said. 'I really felt a connection with the players and the fans, a very strong connection that we saw throughout the season. We were able to handle the tension and excitement in the best possible way.' PSG put on a masterclass which the more experienced Inter team had no answer to, scoring twice in the opening 20 minutes through former Inter defender Achraf Hakimi and Doue. The 19-year-old Doue was on target again in the 63rd minute, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia scored 10 minutes later and substitute Senny Mayulu netted three minutes from time to complete the route in Munich. Before kickoff the Italian fans sang 'There's Only Inter,' the club's anthem, but on the pitch their side went missing and PSG ran riot to secure a richly deserved win. PSG bossed the game from the start, maintaining possession with its slick passing, every player constantly searching for an opening, which they found in the 12th minute when Vitinha played a pass into Doue in the box. Inter defenders appealed for offside but Federico Dimarco played the PSG man onside and the youngster kept his cool to roll the ball across goal and hand Hakimi the simplest of tap-ins. 'We have made history, we have written our names in the history of this club,' Hakimi said. 'For a long time this club deserved it, we are very happy. We have created a great family.' The second came eight minutes later from a quick PSG counter which found Ousmane Dembele on the left wing. Dembele drove forward before floating the ball to the far side and Doue had time to control the ball on his chest and his shot took a deflection off Dimarco to beat the wrong-footed Yann Sommer. Game over Inter had to try to attack in the second half but PSG killed off the game with a third goal when Vitinha slid the ball through to Doue in the area and the 19-year-old coolly slipped the ball past Sommer. Inter was shell-shocked but things only got worse. Dembele's defense-splitting pass from his own half sent Kvaratskhelia haring away before beating Sommer at his near post, a goal which brought the PSG bench, including Luis Enrqiue, onto the pitch. Luis Enrique became the second manager, after his former Barcelona teammate Pep Guardiola, to win the continental treble of League, Cup and Champions League in one season twice, both winning their first with Barca and their second by beating Inter. 'He is the man who has changed everything at PSG. Since he came here, he has changed the way football is seen. He is a loyal man, he deserves it more than anyone else,' Hakimi said. PSG still had time for a fifth as Mayulu fired past Sommer from close range after a pass from substitute Bradley Barcola and the final whistle was greeted with huge roars from the French fans who had been singing loudly all game. Inter had high hopes of making up for its defeat two years ago by Manchester City in Istanbul but finished the season trophyless. 'It absolutely didn't feel like my Inter out there, and the players are the first to know it, but I'm proud of the journey we've taken,' Inter manager Simone Inzaghi said. Luis Enrique, visibly emotional after the final whistle and wearing a T-shirt with a tribute to his daughter Xana who died in 2019, has turned PSG from a side of superstars into a group of humble players finally playing as a team. With Reuters
