Olivia Colman signs pledge to boycott Israeli film institutions over Gaza war
The Oscar-winning actress joins more than 1,200 industry figures refusing to work with Israeli cultural institutions
Oscar-winning actress Olivia Colman has joined more than 1,200 filmmakers, actors, and crew in pledging to boycott Israeli cultural institutions accused of being “implicated in genocide and apartheid against the Palestinian people.”
The commitment, organised by the campaign group Film Workers for Palestine and released on Monday, states that signatories will not screen films, appear at or collaborate with Israeli festivals, broadcasters, cinemas, or production companies said to be complicit.
“Inspired by Filmmakers United Against Apartheid, who refused to screen their films in apartheid South Africa, we pledge not to screen films, appear at, or otherwise work with Israeli film institutions – including festivals, cinemas, broadcasters, and production companies – that are implicated in genocide and apartheid against the Palestinian people,” the statement reads.
The letter cites the International Court of Justice’s ruling that there is a “plausible risk of genocide in Gaza” and argues that refusing collaboration with state-linked institutions is a “profound moral duty.” It defines complicity as “whitewashing or justifying genocide and apartheid, and/or partnering with the government committing them.”
The initiative is modelled on the 1987 Filmmakers United Against Apartheid movement, founded by Martin Scorsese and Jonathan Demme, which refused to work with South African institutions under apartheid.
Prominent names alongside Colman include Ava DuVernay, Yorgos Lanthimos, Tilda Swinton, Riz Ahmed, and Mark Ruffalo.
Major Israeli festivals named by the campaign – such as the Jerusalem Film Festival, Haifa International Film Festival, Docaviv and TLVFest – all receive some government support and are therefore listed as off-limits for signatories.
Film Workers for Palestine said the pledge answers a call from Palestinian filmmakers urging the international industry to “do everything humanly possible to end complicity in their oppression.”
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