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Jewish American filmmaker Sarah Friedland used her acceptance speech at the Venice Film Festival’s awards ceremony to denounce Israel’s war on Gaza, labeling it a genocide.

Friedland won the Luigi de Laurentiis prize for best first film for Familiar Touch and also took home the best director prize in the Horizons section.

The ceremony also saw other filmmakers voicing support for Palestine.

Palestinian director Scandar Copti, awarded best screenplay for Happy Holidays, condemned the violence in Gaza, stating: “Our shared humanity and moral compass have been tested as we witness the genocide in Gaza.�

Copti’s film highlights the destructive power of oppression and how it shapes societal narratives.