From Gaza, where the war continues with dramatic intensity, the voices of Palestinian filmmakers have found a powerful international echo. In response to their call, the organization Film Workers for Palestine has published a statement of commitment that has already gathered over 1,200 signatories from the film and television industry worldwide. This movement, titled “Film Workers Commit to Ending Complicity”, brings together global stars, award-winning directors, and professionals from all branches of the industry, marking one of the largest contemporary artistic mobilizations against the policies of the Israeli state.
A Front of Renowned Stars and Figures
The weight of this declaration lies in the stature of those who signed it. Among them are Oscar, BAFTA, Emmy, and Palme d’Or winners. Susan Sarandon, Oscar-winning actress and long-time activist, joined the statement, as did Spaniard Javier Bardem, known for his political engagement. Tilda Swinton and Olivia Colman, two of Britain’s most respected actresses, added their names alongside Mark Ruffalo, actor and environmental activist.
The mobilization also reaches the Arab and European worlds with personalities such as Tahar Rahim, French actor of Algerian origin now working in Hollywood, Dhafer L’Abidine, Tunisian actor with an international career, and Egyptian comedian and presenter Bassem Youssef, one of the most followed critical voices in the English-speaking world. Beatrice Dalle, a key figure in French cinema, and Irish actor Liam Cunningham, famous for his role in Game of Thrones, are also part of this vast movement. Filmmakers Yorgos Lanthimos and Aki Kaurismäki, internationally recognized directors, further strengthen the symbolic impact of this mobilization.
The Full Text of the Commitment
At the heart of this mobilization is a clear and unequivocal text, as follows:
Film Workers Pledge to end Complicity
As filmmakers, actors, film industry workers, and institutions, we recognize the power of cinema to shape perceptions. In this urgent moment of crisis, where many of our governments are enabling the carnage in Gaza, we must do everything we can to address complicity in that unrelenting horror.
The world’s highest court, the International Court of Justice, has ruled that there is a plausible risk of genocide in Gaza, and that Israel’s occupation and apartheid against Palestinians are unlawful. Standing for equality, justice, and freedom for all people is a profound moral duty that none of us can ignore. So too, we must speak out now against the harm done to the Palestinian people.
We answer the call of Palestinian filmmakers, who have urged the international film industry to refuse silence, racism, and dehumanization, as well as to ‘do everything humanly possible’ to end complicity in their oppression.
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.
A Targeted and Assumed Boycott
The text specifies that the boycott concerns institutions, festivals, broadcasters, and production companies linked to the Israeli state and accused of benefiting from its policies. Events such as the Jerusalem Film Festival, directly supported by the Israeli government, are cited as examples of institutions deemed complicit.
The goal is to denounce the role of certain cultural structures that, according to the signatories, may contribute to the normalization or justification of violence against the Palestinian people.
A Historical Link to Anti-Apartheid Struggles
The statement explicitly claims the heritage of the cultural boycott against South Africa in the 1980s. At the time, major artists such as Martin Scorsese and Jonathan Demme founded Filmmakers United Against Apartheid and convinced numerous actors in the industry to refuse distribution in a country ruled by a racist and segregationist system.
The 2025 signatories intend to reactivate this historical precedent: making cinema not only an artistic space but also a moral and political lever.
A Mobilization that Transcends Borders
Beyond the major stars, this declaration is also supported by producers, critics, screenwriters, and technicians, confirming that solidarity is not the exclusive domain of celebrities. It reflects the idea that cinema, as a whole, is involved in constructing collective narratives and must assume its responsibilities in the face of a situation deemed intolerable.
An Invitation to Act
The movement is open. Film Workers for Palestine invites film professionals from all disciplines and countries to add their signatures. The text and support form are available online:
👉 https://filmworkersforpalestine.org/#endingcomplicity
This mobilization highlights the role of cinema as a tool for social and ethical responsibility. It questions institutional practices, the moral weight of artistic decisions, and the impact of international alliances. Beyond a gesture of solidarity, it opens a space for reflection on how cultural industries can influence awareness and contribute to the fight against oppression. It reminds us that cinema, as a global institution, is never isolated from social and political realities, and can become a concrete lever for transforming practices and encouraging collective reflection on justice and equity.
Neïla Driss
