Gaza genocide: more than 1,300 artists call for the boycott of Israeli cinematographic institutions

More than 1,300 actors and filmmakers, including the Oscar winner Olivia Colman, Mark Ruffalo, Rice Ahmed, Ayo Edebiri, Tilda Swinton, Javier Bardem and Susan Sarandon, are committed to not collaborating with the Israeli cinematographic institutions that they accuse of complicity in the war carried in Gaza. In a text made public on Monday, the signatories denounce “the incessant horror” suffered by the Palestinian population, recalling that the International Court of Justice judged “plausible” the accusation of genocide against Israel. They claim to be inspired by the previous history of cultural boycotts against South African Africa in apartheid and announce that they will avoid festivals, diffusers and production companies linked to the Israeli State.

Among the most famous figures of this movement, Olivia Colman and Mark Ruffalo underline that cinema should not be used to “whiten or justify” war crimes. The artists qualify this boycott of “non -violent tool” to break the impunity from which Israel benefits and call the rest of the film industry to follow their example.

This movement reflects a notable evolution in an environment long perceived as acquired to the stories favorable to Israel. The advertised boycott illustrates a generational and moral rupture: more and more artists consider that it is their responsibility to use their visibility to denounce the violence suffered by the Palestinians, even in the face of political and economic pressures.