Paramount Refuses Boycott of Israeli Film Institutions

On Thursday, Paramount announced it would not participate in a boycott after nearly 4,000 figures from the film industry signed a pledge to stop cooperating with Israeli film organizations.

The studio stated, “At Paramount, we believe in the power of storytelling to connect and promote understanding. It’s part of our creative mission.” They expressed disagreement with the recent boycott efforts, stating that silencing artists based on nationality doesn’t contribute to peace. Instead, the industry should encourage engagement and communication among filmmakers.

Interestingly, Paramount is the first significant studio to stand against this boycott of Israeli film institutions. This response follows a cultivated petition from Palestinian film workers, which began circulating on Monday and has since gathered around 1,200 signatures at the time.

Those endorsing the pledge indicated they would cease collaboration with Israeli organizations they claim are involved in “genocide and apartheid against the Palestinian people.” The statement outlines that such entities include those participating in “whitewashing or justifying genocide” as well as partnerships with the government.

The pledge draws inspiration from similar historical movements, stating, “Inspired by United for Apartheid, we recognize the need to reject Israeli film institutions complicit in the apartheid against Palestinians.” The list of signatories included high-profile figures like Emma Stone and Mark Ruffalo, who were part of the initial 1,200 signatures.

Since its launch, the pledge has amassed thousands more endorsements, with the current figure nearing 3,900. Notable recent signers include Andrew Garfield, Bowen Yang, Elliot Page, and Joaquin Phoenix.