Protesters read Gaza war dead names at Locarno Film Festival

A protest disrupted the Locarno Film Festival on Thursday night when activists read out the names of 60,000 people killed in Gaza since October.

The action happened during the opening ceremony of the 77th edition of the Swiss festival. Organizers had invited Israeli director Nadav Lapid to preside over the event, a choice that drew criticism from some filmmakers and human rights groups. The protestors, who stood in the audience, took turns naming individuals whose lives were lost in the conflict, holding placards with each name.

Festival organizers confirmed the interruption but said the ceremony resumed after a short pause. Security staff removed a small group of demonstrators, who were not identified by name. The protest reflects rising tensions around cultural events that include Israeli participants while the war in Gaza continues. Earlier this week, more than 1,000 filmmakers and artists signed a letter calling for the Locarno festival to address its ties to Israeli institutions amid the ongoing violence.

The festival runs through August 10 with screenings, talks and awards. Lapid, whose film “The Kindergarten Teacher” was screened at Locarno in 2019, has not publicly commented on the protest. Last year’s festival saw similar calls for accountability over artistic collaborations with institutions from countries involved in conflicts. The event’s artistic director, Carlo Chatrian, has said the festival remains committed to dialogue but also to freedom of expression on all sides.