Rome, Italy – Ms. Patrizia Frigonesi De Filippo, founder and director of the Cinema d’iDEA – Women’s International Film Festival in Rome, affirmed that the efforts of the Gaza International Women’s Film Festival in supporting women in the Gaza Strip represent “a powerful message to women around the world.”
Her remarks came in a letter addressed to Dr. Ezzedeen Shallah, President and Founder of the Gaza International Women’s Film Festival, on the occasion of his receiving the Sumud Award during the Italian festival.
Frigonesi De Filippo wrote:
“It is a true honor for me and for the festival to host the poster of the Gaza International Women’s Film Festival and to present this award to Ezzedeen Shallah, who truly deserves it, just as all Palestinian women deserve it.”
She added:
“I hope that genuine peace will one day be achieved and that we will have the opportunity to meet. Your work, passion, and commitment remain close to my heart.”
She also expressed her appreciation for the role played by the Gaza International Women’s Film Festival in supporting women in Gaza, emphasizing that its work carries a powerful humanitarian and cultural message that transcends borders and reaches women across the world. She further expressed her hope of welcoming the festival’s president to Rome in the future as part of the festival’s activities.
As part of this tribute, the Cinema d’iDEA – Women’s International Film Festival presented the Sumud Award to Dr. Ezzedeen Shallah in recognition of his efforts to strengthen the presence of Palestinian women in cinema and culture and for his continued support of Palestinian women directors and filmmakers.
The award was accepted on his behalf by Palestinian director Laila Abbas, who is currently in Rome on an artistic residency with Kino Produzioni. During the festival, her feature film Thank You for Banking with Us was screened as part of the official program.
For his part, Dr. Ezzedeen Shallah expressed his deep appreciation for the recognition, describing the award as an acknowledgment of the resilience and creativity of Palestinian women, as well as of the ongoing efforts of the Gaza International Women’s Film Festival to empower women and amplify their voices internationally.
The evening also featured the screening of four Palestinian short films:
Bulldozer, directed by Hiba Islam
Remembrance, directed by Yaqeen Yamani
Remaining in My Eyes, directed by Dina Abdullah
Deir Hanna 1981 – Wadi Fukin 2021, directed by Rana Abu Shkheidem and Mira Jibrin
These films were produced through two workshops organized by The Palestinian Museum and Dar al-Kalima University in Bethlehem. The workshops focused on the creative use of archival materials in short filmmaking and on reinterpreting Palestinian memory through the language of cinema
