Hundreds of actors, directors and industry professionals have signed a pledge refusing to work with Israeli film institutions they say are “complicit in genocide and apartheid against the Palestinian people.”
Shared with the Guardian, the pledge emphasizes cinema’s power to shape perceptions and urges action amid the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Signatories include Yorgos Lanthimos, Ava DuVernay, Asif Kapadia, Boots Riley, Joshua Oppenheimer, Olivia Colman, Mark Ruffalo, Tilda Swinton, Javier Bardem, Riz Ahmed and Josh O’Connor. By Sunday night, over 1,200 industry figures had signed.
Inspired by the cultural boycott that helped end apartheid in South Africa, the pledge targets institutions: festivals, production companies, cinemas and broadcasters rather than individual artists. Palestinian civil society guidelines are cited for engagement with Israeli citizens.
Screenwriter David Farr, a signatory, said, “As a descendant of Holocaust survivors, I cannot support my work being published or performed in Israel. Cultural boycotts were pivotal in South Africa and should be supported by all artists of conscience now.”
The Israeli Producers Association criticized the pledge, saying it unfairly targets creators who amplify Palestinian narratives and promote dialogue.
The pledge comes amid broader industry protests over Israel’s war in Gaza. Earlier this year, hundreds of actors and filmmakers, including Joaquin Phoenix and Guillermo del Toro, condemned Hollywood’s silence.
Last week, ‘The Voice of Hind Rajab’, a film about a five-year-old killed in Gaza, received a 23-minute standing ovation at Venice, with executive producers including Brad Pitt and Joaquin Phoenix.
