By admin

Copyright dawatmedia24

SAN SEBASTIAN, Spain – The 73rd San Sebastian International Film Festival culminated on a note of both celebration and political defiance, as American actress Jennifer Lawrence received its highest honor, the Premio Donostia, against a backdrop of sustained protests against the war in Gaza.

Lawrence, 35, became the youngest recipient of the lifetime achievement award, a recognition of a career that includes an Academy Award for Silver Linings Playbook and blockbuster franchises like The Hunger Games. However, her acceptance was framed by a stark warning about the cultural climate in her home country.

“Our freedom of speech is under attack in America,” Lawrence stated during a pre-ceremony press conference. She expanded on this, linking artistic expression to broader human needs, noting that in the world of film, “we realize that we are all connected and need empathy and freedom.”

The actress was at the festival to present her latest project, Kill Me Love, which she described as a career turning point and in which she also serves as a producer. When asked for advice, she encouraged aspiring filmmakers to persevere: “Learn, go to casting tests, keep trying. But above all, watching films is very important.”

Addressing the role of women in Hollywood, Lawrence pointed to creators like Greta Gerwig as evidence that diverse voices enrich storytelling. “They have shown that when we are given the opportunity, the world benefits, because more stories are told and there are more perspectives,” she said.

A Festival Defined by Political Protest

Lawrence’s award ceremony was the highlight of a festival that had been intensely politicized from its opening night on September 19. The event’s focus was consistently shifted from cinema to the conflict in Gaza, with the red carpet becoming a stage for protest.

As guests arrived for the gala, some 2,000 demonstrators gathered outside the Kursaal auditorium chanting “Free Palestine.” Inside, presenters Silvia Abril, Toni Acosta, and Itziar Ituño condemned “the genocide carried out by Israel in Palestine” and called for a round of applause “to be heard even in Palestine.”

That same evening, filmmakers Pedro and Agustín Almodóvar wore “Genocide Stop” stickers and shouted “Long live free Palestine” while presenting the Donostia Award to producer Esther García. García herself used her acceptance speech to urge attendees to “fight to stop the genocide in Gaza now,” reminding them that films should be “tools to make the world a more beautiful and fairer place.”

The protests continued throughout the week, creating a chorus of condemnation from the festival’s stages:

On September 21, French actress Juliette Binoche called from the stage for “an end to the massacre in Palestine.”

Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi denounced the insensitivity of international politics.

Directors José María Goenaga and Aitor Arregi, in competition with their film Maspalomas, publicly defended an embargo on Israel, with Goenaga stating, “It is time to take a clear position.”

Director Alberto Rodríguez was categorical from the stage: “The continuation of the genocide in Gaza is a disgrace. We are all accomplices if we don’t act.”

In one of the most poignant gestures, actor Eduard Fernández took to the stage during the National Film Award ceremony wearing a Palestinian keffiyeh, a move reminiscent of Javier Bardem’s at the Emmy Awards. He read aloud the names of children killed in Gaza, defiantly stating, “Some will say ‘what a pain in the ass’, but we can’t stop saying it to preserve our dignity.”

Cinema as a Loudspeaker

With her production company, Excellent Cadaver, Lawrence has herself championed socially conscious projects like the Apple TV+ film Causeway and the Peabody Award-winning documentary Bread & Roses. Her presence at San Sebastian, while focused on her artistic achievements, was inevitably woven into the festival’s political fabric.

The 73rd edition demonstrated that for the international film community, cinema is increasingly inseparable from activism. The San Sebastian Festival not only celebrated the career of Jennifer Lawrence but also firmly established itself as a loudspeaker for what it framed as a common cause: using its platform to demand peace and justice.

Support Dawat Media Center

If there were ever a time to join us, it is now. Every contribution, however big or small, powers our journalism and sustains our future. Support the Dawat Media Center from as little as $/€10 – it only takes a minute. If you can, please consider supporting us with a regular amount each month. Thank you
DNB Bank AC # 0530 2294668
Account for international payments: NO15 0530 2294 668
Vipps: #557320

Donate Here