Several leading directors in the world of cinema have issued a petition calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, published in French in the daily newspaper Liberation. The petition refers to the current situation in Gaza as a “massacre of extreme proportions.” However, the petition also calls for the release of the Israeli hostages and acknowledges that the war began following the Hamas deadly attacks of October 7.

“Ceasefire Now!”, demonstrators in Tel-Aviv, December 30, 2023 (Photo: Zo Haderech)

The petition was signed by many directors who never boycotted Israel, and many even visited the country on several occasions, among them: Claire Denis, from France, was a judge at the Jerusalem Festival, Christian Petzold, from Germany, visited the Festival of Students in Tel Aviv, French director Robert Guédiguian visited Israel a few years ago and Béla Tarr from Hungary was at the Jerusalem Film Festival.

The first director to sign the petition was Israeli Nadav Lapid, who won the Golden Bear at the Berlin Film Festival for “Synonymous Words” and the Jury Prize at Cannes for “The Knee.”

According the petition: “The terrible violence of October 7 plunged Israelis and Palestinians into a new episode of killing and cruelty. What is currently taking place in Gaza is a massacre of extreme proportions, which is killing thousands of women and children and destroying the minimum conditions of survival for an entire people. We demand an immediate end to the bombings on Gaza, the establishment of humanitarian corridors and material resources demanded by all international organizations, and the release of the hostages.”

In addition the statement was signed by Ryosuke Maguchi, who won the Oscar for foreign film two years ago for “Mr. Yusuke’s Leadership”; Aki Kaurismaki, who is expected to be nominated for an Oscar this year for “Falling Leaves”; Laurent Cantet, who won the Palme d’Or 15 years ago for “Between the Walls”; Arthur Harari, co-wrote the script for “Anatomy of a Fall”, which won the Palme d’Or this year; Apichatpong Weerasethakul, who won the Palme d’Or 13 years ago for “Uncle Bunma”; China’s Jia Zhangke, whose “Touch of Sin” we chose for the film of the previous decade; Abderrahmane Sissako from Mauritania; veteran Spanish director Victor Erice, (“The Spirit of the Beehive”, “El Sur”); Pedro Costa (Foreign cineaste of the year at Festival Cannes, 2002), Claire Simon, Andre China, Cornelio Forumboyo, Ira Sachs, Cedric Kahn, and many others.

Related: https://maki.org.il/en/?p=31330