The open letter, published simultaneously in Libération and Variety, centers on the death of 25-year-old Palestinian photojournalist Fatma Hassona. Killed in an Israeli military strike on April 16, 2025, Hassona was a featured subject in Sepideh Farsi’s documentary, Put Your Soul on Your Hand and Walk, which was slated for a Cannes premiere. The document also highlights the March detention of Oscar-winning filmmaker Hamdan Ballal, who was attacked by settlers and subsequently held by the Israeli military, sparking backlash against the Academy for its initial lack of support.
Signatories including Ralph Fiennes, Richard Gere, and Mark Ruffalo expressed deep shame over the industry's perceived passivity. They argue that cinema, traditionally a space for social critique, has become indifferent to the oppression of Palestinians. Farsi, who joined the call for action, urged festival organizers to issue a formal stance against the conflict. She dismissed the notion that the festival should remain apolitical, noting that the ongoing assault has claimed over 52,900 lives and left millions in the enclave without basic necessities due to an aid blockade.
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