Latest news with #AssociationfortheDiffusionofIndependentCinema
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Cannes Expresses 'Profound Sadness' At Death Of Gaza Photojournalist Fatima Hassouna
The Cannes Film Festival has expressed 'profound sadness' over the death in an Israeli airstrike of Palestinian artist and photojournalist Fatima Hassouna, who is the subject of a documentary invited to the parallel ACID section this year. Hassouna was killed with nine members of her family in a direct strike on their home in Gaza City on April 16. More from Deadline Cannes Adds 16 New Titles To 2025 Selection Including Lynne Ramsay's 'Die, My Love'; Kristen Stewart's 'The Chronology Of Water' & Ethan Coen's 'Honey Don't!' Shudder Acquires Historical Horror 'Orang Ikan' Cannes Film Festival's Official Poster(s) For 2025 Honor Claude Lelouch's 'A Man And A Woman' 'The 25-year-old Palestinian photojournalist had made it her mission to bear witness to the daily lives of the inhabitants of Gaza in 2025 through her work and dedication, despite the risks associated with the war in the Palestinian enclave,' the Cannes Film Festival said in a statement. 'Fatima Hassouna is one of the far too many victims of the violence that has engulfed the region for months,' it continued. Hassouna, who had gained recognition for her photojournalism capturing the impact on the Gaza Strip's civilian population of the Israeli military campaign, appears in French-Iranian director Sepideh Farsi's Put Your Soul On Your Hand And Walk. The film will play in the parallel ACID sidebar, run by France's Association for the Diffusion of Independent Cinema, on April 15. 'The Festival de Cannes wishes to express its dread and profound sadness at this tragedy that has moved and shocked the whole world. Although a film is a small thing in the face of such a tragedy, the screening of Sepideh Farsi's Put Your Soul on Your Hand and Walk on May 15 in Cannes as part of ACID, will be, in addition to the message of the film itself, a way to honor the memory of Fatima Hassouna.' Israel's bombing and invasion of Gaza began in October 2023 in response to Hamas's October 7 attacks on southern Israel, which killed 1,200 people and resulted in the taking of 251 hostages. Eighteen months on, at least 51,065 people have died according to figures released by the Hamas-run Gaza health authority, endorsed by the United Nations, although statistical research published by the Lancet medical journal in February suggested this figure may be 15,000 higher. Another 116,505 people have also been injured in the Gaza Strip, while 90 percent of the territory's 2.1 million-strong population has been displaced. Of the 251 hostages taken during the October 7 attack, 59 remain in the Gaza Strip, with around 24 of them still believed to be alive. Best of Deadline Everything We Know About The 'We Were Liars' Show So Far 'Wednesday' Season 2: Everything We Know About The Cast, Premiere Date & More 2025-26 Awards Season Calendar: Dates For Tonys, Emmys, Oscars & More
Express Tribune
17-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Palestinian photojournalist Fatima Hassouna killed in Israeli airstrike ahead of Cannes debut
Fatima Hassouna, a Palestinian photojournalist and the subject of the documentary Put Your Soul on Your Hand and Walk, was killed in an Israeli airstrike on Gaza City on Wednesday. Hassouna, who gained international recognition for her photojournalism documenting the impact of the Israeli military atrocities on Gaza's civilian population, was killed alongside nine members of her family. The strike directly targeted their home. The tragic death came just 24 hours after it was announced that Hassouna's documentary, directed by French-Iranian filmmaker Sepideh Farsi, was selected for the ACID (Association for the Diffusion of Independent Cinema) section at the Cannes Film Festival, scheduled for May 14-23. The film focuses on video conversations between Farsi and Hassouna, which began as part of a larger project on the unfolding events in Gaza. The director, who described Hassouna as 'such a light' and immensely talented, shared the heartbreaking news, expressing deep sadness over the loss. Farsi recalled their last conversation, where she told Hassouna that the documentary had been selected for Cannes and invited her to attend the screening. Hassouna had expressed interest in coming to Cannes, but only if she could return to Gaza afterward, highlighting her strong connection to her home despite the dangers surrounding her. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) reported that at least 157 journalists have been killed in Gaza since the war began in October 2023. Farsi speculated that Hassouna's death could have been targeted due to her work documenting the events in Gaza. 'I even feel guilty... maybe they targeted her because the film was announced,' Farsi said, acknowledging the uncertainty of the situation. The Israeli military claimed that the bombing targeted the building because a Hamas officer was allegedly inside, a claim Farsi strongly rejected. The news of Hassouna's death was met with shock and grief, particularly by France's Association for the Diffusion of Independent Cinema, which had been promoting the documentary. The association expressed its horror, stating that it had watched Hassouna's resilience and strength shine through her photography and her work despite the constant threats surrounding her.
