An open letter from a group that calls itself Film Workers for Palestine had amassed more than 4,000 signatures as of Wednesday, with a slew of Hollywood stars and filmmakers pledging not to work with Israeli film institutions that have been \u201cimplicated in genocide and apartheid against the Palestinian people.\u201d <\/p>\n
\u201cAs filmmakers, actors, film industry workers, and institutions, we recognize the power of cinema to shape perceptions,\u201d the pledge, which was published online earlier this week, states. \u201cIn 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
The list of signees include Oscar, BAFTA, Emmy and Palme d\u2019Or winners, such as filmmakers Jonathan Glazer, Ava DuVernay, Yorgos Lanthimos, Asif Kapadia, Boots Riley and Joshua Oppenheimer; and actors Emma Stone, Joaquin Phoenix, Rooney Mara, Nicola Coughlan, Andrew Garfield, Harris Dickinson, Bowen Yang, Guy Pearce, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Fisher Stevens, Abbi Jacobson, Eric Andre, Elliot Page, Olivia Colman, Mark Ruffalo, Tilda Swinton, Javier Bardem, Ayo Edebiri, Riz Ahmed, Josh O\u2019Connor, Cynthia Nixon, among others.<\/p>\n
Those who signed the letter will refuse to work with Israeli festivals, cinemas, broadcasters and production companies that have participated in \u201cwhitewashing or justifying genocide and apartheid, and\/or partnering with the government committing them,\u201d according to the pledge. <\/p>\n
On its FAQ page, Film Workers for Palestine notes that the pledge doesn\u2019t prohibit film professionals from working with Israeli individuals. \u201cThis refusal takes aim at institutional complicity, not identity,\u201d the group states. <\/p>\n
The letter cited the International Court of Justice\u2019s ruling<\/a> last January that there was a plausible risk of genocide in Gaza. The ICJ also ruled<\/a> last July that \u201cthe State of Israel\u2019s continued presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory is unlawful,\u201d and that Israel\u2019s legislation and measures \u201cconstitute systemic discrimination based on, inter alia, race, religion or ethnic origin\u201d in violation of international human rights law.<\/p>\n Israel\u2019s Foreign Ministry has rejected the ICJ\u2019s opinion<\/a>, calling it \u201cfundamentally wrong\u201d and \u201cblatantly one-sided.\u201d<\/p>\n The letter is the latest action to underscore an apparent shift in public opinion across the U.S. and Europe<\/a> against Israel\u2019s military operations in Gaza. Since Hamas\u2019 Oct. 7, 2023 attack on Israel<\/a>, and Israel\u2019s subsequent military campaign in Gaza<\/a>, denunciation of Israel\u2019s war tactics has grown louder as civilians in Gaza face widespread bombardment and starvation.<\/p>\n But in Hollywood, many who have voiced concern over Palestinian human rights have often been met with accusations of antisemitism.<\/p>\n In November 2023<\/a>, United Talent Agency confirmed that it dropped Oscar-winning actor Susan Sarandon after she made remarks at a pro-Palestinian rally in New York. That same month, Spyglass Media Group said it dropped actor Melissa Barrera from the \u201cScream\u201d horror series after a reported slew of Instagram posts condemning Israel in strong terms. <\/p>\n Maha Dakhil, an agent at Creative Artists Agency, also drew criticism after she posted messages on social media that accused Israel of \u201cgenocide.\u201d She subsequently removed the posts and apologized, and then resigned from her board seat, Variety reported<\/a>. <\/p>\n Jonathan Glazer, a British filmmaker who is among those who signed the Film Workers for Palestine letter, received backlash in 2024 after denouncing the bloodshed in the Middle East in his Oscars’ acceptance speech<\/a>. <\/p>\n The \u201cZone of Interest\u201d director, who is Jewish, said onstage, \u201cRight now, we stand here as men who refute their Jewishness and the Holocaust being hijacked by an occupation, which has led to conflict for so many people.\u201d<\/p>\n Over 1,000 Jewish creatives and professionals in Hollywood subsequently denounced the speech<\/a>, Variety reported at the time, stating that \u201cthe use of words like \u2018occupation\u2019 to describe an indigenous Jewish people defending a homeland that dates back thousands of years, and has been recognized as a state by the United Nations, distorts history.\u201d<\/p>\n![\"James](\"https:\/\/media-cldnry.s-nbcnews.com\/image\/upload\/t_fit-760w,f_auto,q_auto:best\/rockcms\/2024-03\/240315-jonathan-glazer-ew-956a-321f29.jpg\")
Jonathan Glazer accepts the award for best international feature film during at the Oscars in 2024.<\/span>Chris Pizzello \/ Invision \/ AP<\/span><\/p>\n