Anuparna Roy defends Palestine remarks after Venice Film Festival win

Debutant filmmaker Anuparna Roy, who won the Orizzonti Award for Best Director at the 82nd Venice Film Festival for her film "Songs of Forgotten Trees", has reaffirmed her support for Palestine following a controversy over her acceptance speech.

The Purulia-born director made headlines after dedicating a portion of her address to Palestine, a stance that sparked heated debate in India.

"I meant whatever I said at the festival. It was said with the intention of pointing out the injustice around the world. If I support Palestine, if I am standing against injustice, it doesn't make me less Indian. People are thinking that I have spoken about it for the first time, but it's not that. I mentioned Palestine while receiving an award in Russia," Roy told ANI.

She also revealed that she had been advised against making such remarks by her mentor, filmmaker Anurag Kashyap, as well as by her producers.

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"People are claiming that I made the comments under the influence of Anurag Kashyap, but I was strictly advised by my producers, my mentor, and Anurag Kashyap himself that I don't need to talk about it. I went beyond their advice and said it all," Roy clarified.