Palestinian flags flank the pink carpet on the San Sebastian Movie Pageant. Demonstrators have taken to the streets as town celebrates Spain’s most prestigious movie fest, protesting the 40,000-plus males, girls, and kids who’ve been killed in Gaza for the reason that warfare with Israel started, in line with the Hamas-run well being ministry. Amongst these taking a pro-Gaza stance in the course of the movie occasion on the Spanish coast is Spanish nationwide treasure Javier Bardem, who was in San Sebastian receiving its Donostia Award.
On the press convention, he took the chance to name for a ceasefire in Gaza and denounce the actions of the Israeli authorities of Benjamin Netanyahu, who’ve continued air strikes in Gaza following the Hamas assault on Oct. 7, 2023, the place over 1,200 folks Israelis had been murdered.
“I welcome [the award] with nice pleasure however I’m not within the temper for celebrations,” a translation of Bardem’s assertion within the Spanish press stated. “What has occurred in Gaza is unacceptable, dehumanizing.”
Bardem stated he believes the Israeli authorities is “essentially the most radical authorities” the nation has ever seen and has dedicated warfare crimes in Gaza. “The atrocious and reprehensible assaults by Hamas in October don’t justify the large international punishment that the Palestinian inhabitants is struggling,” he continued. “I consider that the impunity with which the Israeli authorities enjoys its actions in Gaza and the West Financial institution has to alter,” he added, imploring the U.S. and U.Okay. specifically to rethink their “unconditional assist” for Benjamin Netanyahu.
On San Sebastian’s most well-known seashore, La Concha, protestors wrote pro-Gaza messages within the sand for all on the promenade to learn over the weekend.
Bardem accepted his Donostia Award Friday night time, gushing over his spouse Penélope Cruz. The actor, who has had starring roles in Dune: Half Two, No Nation for Outdated Males — which bagged him an Academy Award — and Skyfall, amongst myriad celebrated Spanish tasks like Huevos de Oro and El detective y la muerte, accepted the award from his siblings, Monica and Carlos Bardem.
The 72nd San Sebastian Movie Pageant runs by means of Sept. 28.