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Guest Essay

By Sharon Waxman

Ms. Waxman is the founder, chief executive and editor in chief of The Wrap. She reported from Toronto.

Gaza has pitted Hollywood against itself. And as the season of serious filmmaking arrives with the Venice and Toronto International Film Festivals, the divisions it has wrought are back in the spotlight.

The brutal violence that began almost two years ago, on Oct. 7, 2023, has divided the entertainment community like few issues in recent decades, with torturous results. Unlike South African apartheid or even the war in Ukraine, issues the largely progressive industry could unite over, the conflict between Palestinians and Israelis remains a third rail, with convictions running deep and angry across the board. The documentary “No Other Land,” which depicted oppression in the West Bank, won film festival acclaim last year and an Oscar but stirred such controversy that distributors didn’t want to touch it.

Both supporters of the Palestinians and those who defend Israel feel persecuted for their views — or are worried they will be. Almost from the start, there has been talk of reprisals against those who make their views known.

The Venice Film Festival kicked off last month with a huge street protest, along with calls by a group of international filmmakers and artists to take a “clear and unambiguous stand” against the “ongoing genocide in Gaza and the ethnic cleansing across Palestine carried out by the Israeli government and army.” The group also wanted the festival to rescind invitations to actors featured in films premiering there, including the “In the Hand of Dante” stars Gal Gadot, who is Israeli, and Gerard Butler, who made statements in support of Israel.

The festival organizers, as well as........

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