Irish-British director Martin McDonagh showed his support for those striking in Hollywood during the first day of the Venice Film Festival.

The Oscar-winning Banshees Of Inisherin creator was pictured donning a t-shirt reading “Writers Guild On Strike” while posing for press photos.

"Art over content" ✊ Thank you #VeniceFilmFestival2023 jury members Damien Chazelle, Laura Poitras, and Martin McDonagh for your solidarity! #WGAstrike #1uhttps://t.co/0xGEVhAP5W pic.twitter.com/wpKeOmQLEg

— Writers Guild of America, East (@WGAEast) August 30, 2023

The Venice Film festival, now entering its 80^th year, has had an apparent drop in celebrity appearances due to the ongoing disputes in Los Angeles.

Members of the American acting union Sag-Aftra are not permitted to do any promotional work during the strikes. The organisation represents over 160,000 actors.

McDonagh was joined by another Academy Award winning director in Jane Campion. The two are Jury members at the Venetian festival, alongside Saleh Bakri, Shu Qi, Laura Poitras and Damien Chazelle.

Martin McDonagh and and his fellow jury members at Venice rocking #WGAstrikes t-shirts ✊🏽 pic.twitter.com/XteJcXUdp0

— Nadia Khomami (@nadiakhomami) August 30, 2023

Before the strikes, organisers had intended to open the event with a screening of Zendaya’s Challengers, however the film was replaced by Comandante, a WWII drama directed by Edoardo De Angelis.

Earlier this week, Sag-Aftra representatives said they’re prepared “at a moment’s notice to go back to the bargaining table to secure a righteous deal”.