Over 4,000 actors and filmmakers, including many well-known names from Hollywood, pledged to boycott Israel’s film industry and made strong statements against it on Saturday, leading to a notable response from Paramount.
Mega Studios was the first in Hollywood to publicly denounce the anti-Israel pledge, as reported by Deadline.
The situation escalated with a controversial Open Letter signed by several Hollywood stars, such as Olivia Colman, Lily Gladstone, Emma Stone, Mark Ruffalo, Peter Salusgaard, Elliot Page, and director Ava DuVernay.
The letter demands a boycott, asserting that Israeli film studios have ties to terrorism against Palestinians.
The letter stated:
“Inspired by filmmakers during apartheid who refused to show films in Apartheid South Africa, we commit to not participating in Israeli film institutions such as festivals, cinemas, broadcasting networks, or any production companies linked to apartheid actions against Palestinians.”
The movement, termed Filmmakers Against Apartheid, was established in 1987 by Martin Scorsese and the late Jonathan Dem.
This pledge aims to channel the momentum from a cultural boycott that had a part in ending South Africa’s apartheid.
Paramount, recently acquired by the Larry Ellison family and Redbird Capital Partners, expressed its disagreement with this campaign.
“At Paramount, we are firm believers in the power of storytelling to connect and inspire, to encourage mutual understanding and to highlight events, ideas, and moments that shape our shared world,” the company stated.
“We are not in agreement with the recent calls to boycott Israeli filmmakers. The global entertainment industry should foster an environment where artists can freely tell their stories and share their ideas with audiences everywhere.”
“What we really need is more engagement and dialogue.
The Israeli Association of Film and Film Producers responded to the pledge, asserting that “those who signed the petition are targeting the wrong individuals.”
