Rome: Messages of support for Gaza dominated Italy's David di Donatello award ceremony, where filmmakers and artists used the stage in Rome to highlight the genocide and humanitarian crisis in the Palestinian enclave.
According to Anadolu Agency, at the 71st edition of the awards held at Cinecitta Studios, several winners addressed Gaza from the stage, with speeches focusing on war, artistic responsibility, and solidarity. Omar Rammal, art director of the short film "Everyday in Gaza," described the extreme conditions under which the filming took place. He emphasized that filming was not merely an artistic endeavor but an act of survival, with camera operators working amidst fire and bombs.
Rammal further elaborated that the film was created by a team working inside Gaza under bombardment, while he directed remotely. He highlighted the contrast between the celebration of cinema in Europe and the suffering in Gaza, urging artists to acknowledge ongoing violence. Lino Musella, who won Best Supporting Actor for "Nonostante," echoed these sentiments, quoting Robert De Niro on the threat art poses to autocrats and fascists, and expressing solidarity with the Global Sumud Flotilla.
Other winners also referenced Gaza and Palestine in their acceptance speeches. Set designers Andrea Castorina and Marco Martucci dedicated their award to Palestinian children, and sound designer Gianluca Scarlata appeared on stage with a Palestinian-themed bag, urging continued dialogue about Gaza.
The event's top prize for Best Film was awarded to "Le Citta di Pianura," directed by Francesco Sossai. The ceremony occurred against the backdrop of recent tensions, with Israeli military intercepting boats affiliated with the Global Sumud Flotilla in international waters off Crete. This initiative, aimed at delivering humanitarian aid to Gaza, followed a previous attempt in September 2025 that resulted in an Israeli raid and the arrest of international activists.
Israel's blockade on Gaza, in place since 2007, continues to impact the region severely, with approximately 1.5 million Palestinians displaced due to ongoing conflict since October 2023.