The opening night of the 73rd San Sebastián International Film Festival was not only a celebration for cinema lovers but also a stage for civic expression. Around two hundred people gathered at the entrance to the Kursaal building, the festival’s traditional venue, to show support for the Palestinian people. The participants held flags, chanted slogans, and demanded change, openly expressing their emotions.
While festival guests walked the red carpet, calls for freedom for Palestine and a boycott of Israel rang out on the other side of the barricades. Some protesters carried signs demanding an end to violence and calling to stop the genocide. The atmosphere at the entrance was tense, but there were no incidents.
Festival director José Luis Rebordinos did not stay on the sidelines. He appeared in public with a symbolic emblem supporting the people of Gaza pinned to his suit. Festival organizers officially condemned the actions of Israeli authorities in Gaza, called for an immediate ceasefire, and demanded the release of all hostages.
This year, the opening ceremony featured the prestigious Donostia Award being presented to producer Esther García from El Deseo, as well as the premiere of the Argentine film “27 noches,” directed by Daniel Hendler. However, the political context was not left aside: actors Saja Kilani and Motaz Malhees, who starred in “La voz de Hind,” are expected to attend the festival. The film tells the story of the tragic death of a six-year-old Palestinian girl during an Israeli airstrike, using real recordings of her final phone conversations.
The screening of “La voz de Hind,” which was awarded the Silver Lion at the Venice Film Festival in September, is set to be one of the most talked-about and emotional events at this year’s festival. Once again, San Sebastián proves that art and social commitment can go hand in hand, and the film festival serves not only as a platform for premieres, but also as a venue for open dialogue on the most pressing issues of our time.
