From Abu Dhabi to Venice: Human Fraternity Through the Lens of Cinema

This gathering in Venice reflected not only the city’s legacy as a crossroads of ideas but also its connection to a modern journey that began in Abu Dhabi. It was in Abu Dhabi that the Abu Dhabi Document on Human Fraternity was signed, laying the foundation for the establishment of the HCHF. Abu Dhabi embodies the present face of this mission: a place where modernity meets compassion, where technology serves humanity, and where coexistence is embraced as a guiding principle. Together, Abu Dhabi and Venice symbolize a bridge between past and present, heritage and innovation, tradition and vision.

The program in Venice, The Ties That Bind: A Journey Towards Understanding and Human Fraternity, was more than a celebration of film. It was a vivid demonstration of how the arts can extend Abu Dhabi’s message of coexistence into new cultural spaces. Cinema proved to be the perfect medium for this dialogue. Film has the rare capacity to transcend linguistic and cultural boundaries, allowing audiences to inhabit the experiences of others and to encounter the world through different eyes. In Venice, the screen became both a mirror and a window, reflecting the fragility of the human spirit while opening pathways toward empathy, dialogue, and shared responsibility.

By engaging with filmmakers and artists, the HCHF underscored the essential role of culture in advancing human fraternity. This collaboration showed that art is not only about aesthetic appreciation but also about creating movements that unite people across divides. Through storytelling, music, and imagery, artists can transform fraternity from a philosophical aspiration into a lived, shared heritage.

The framing of fraternity as a form of human heritage was one of the program’s most profound achievements. Just as Venice preserves its monuments and Abu Dhabi fosters innovation in technology and culture, so too must humanity preserve the values of coexistence, respect, and compassion. These values must be carried forward as treasures for future generations, reminding us that heritage is not confined to stone, parchment, or architecture. It lives in the principles we uphold and the relationships we nurture.

The Venice program was therefore more than an event; it was the continuation of a journey that began in Abu Dhabi and is now reaching cultural capitals around the world. It was a demonstration that when institutions like the HCHF join forces with the arts, they do not simply host discussions. They spark movements that shape narratives, influence societies, and remind humanity of its common destiny.

As the lights dimmed in Venice, the resonance of Abu Dhabi’s message grew louder. Together, these two cities illustrate the timeless truth that human fraternity is both our heritage and our future. To safeguard it, we must weave history with modernity, art with technology, and dialogue with imagination so that humanity may continue to recognise itself as one.

_______________________________________________________________________________________