Paramount Denounces Boycott Of Israeli Film Industry Over Gaza Crisis
HuffPost
More than 4,000 participants, including Academy Award-winning actors and filmmakers, signed the pledge condemning the "unrelenting horror" in Gaza.
Paramount denounced a boycott of the Israeli film industry that includes more than 4,000 participants, Academy Award-winning actors and filmmakers among them, protesting the crisis in Gaza.
The studio became the first to speak out after the pledge was published on Monday by Film Workers for Palestine. A website for the pledge says it was inspired by Filmmakers United Against Apartheid, who refused to screen their films in apartheid South Africa, and condemns the “unrelenting horror” happening in Gaza.
Actors Brian Cox, Emma Stone, Ayo Edebiri, Elliot Page, Joaquin Phoenix, Andrew Garfield and more are among those who signed the letter. Directors Yorgos Lanthimos, Ava DuVernay, Adam McKay and Boots Riley, along with others in the film industry, also added their signatures.
In a statement, Paramount — which closed its merger with Skydance in August and is reportedly planning a major bid for Warner Bros. Discovery — said it doesn’t agree with the boycott, saying silencing artists based on their nationality does not “advance the cause of peace.”
“At Paramount, we believe in the power of storytelling to connect and inspire people, promote mutual understanding, and preserve the moments, ideas, and events that shape the world we share. This is our creative mission,” said the statement, shared by CNN’s Brian Stelter on X. “We do not agree with recent efforts to boycott Israeli filmmakers. Silencing individual creative artists based on their nationality does not promote better understanding or advance the cause of peace. The global entertainment industry should be encouraging artists to tell their stories and share their ideas with audiences throughout the world. We need more engagement and communication—not less.
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