Debutant Filmmaker Anuparna Roy Wins Best Director at Venice, Sparks Row Over Palestine Remarks

First-time filmmaker Anuparna Roy scripted history at the 82nd Venice Film Festival, winning the Orizzonti Award for Best Director for Songs of Forgotten Trees.

An emotional Roy dedicated her win to women worldwide but stirred controversy with remarks in solidarity with Palestine. “Every child deserves peace, freedom, liberation — and Palestinians are no exception,” she said during her acceptance speech, adding that upsetting her own country “doesn’t matter anymore.”

Back in India, the comments drew sharp criticism. Speaking to ANI, Roy defended her stance, saying: “If I support Palestine and stand against injustice, it doesn’t make me less Indian. I request everyone to celebrate the achievement and not politicise it.”

Roy also revealed that her producers, mentor, and filmmaker Anurag Kashyap had advised her to avoid political remarks, but she “went beyond their advice.” Facing backlash and even being labeled a “traitor,” she maintained she would continue speaking against injustice, citing Kashmir, Murshidabad, and Gujarat as issues she feels strongly about.

Songs of Forgotten Trees was the only Indian entry in the festival’s Orizzonti section. The film follows two migrant women in Mumbai as they navigate loneliness, survival, and fleeting human connection.