Over 1,500 Film Figures Pledge Boycott Against Israeli Cinema Institutions

More than 1,500 film industry professionals, including prominent actors such as Olivia Colman, Mark Ruffalo, and Javier Bardem, have signed a pledge organized by Film Workers for Palestine to boycott Israeli film institutions they accuse of complicity in genocide and apartheid against Palestinians. The pledge commits signatories not to screen films, appear at, or collaborate with Israeli festivals, cinemas, broadcasters, and production companies implicated in supporting the Israeli government's actions in Gaza. This cultural boycott is inspired by a similar movement during apartheid South Africa and targets institutional complicity rather than individuals, emphasizing that only entities partnering with or whitewashing the Israeli government's policies are subject to the boycott. The group cites the International Court of Justice’s ruling on the plausible risk of genocide in Gaza and urges the global film community to take a moral stand against complicity in the ongoing violence. The boycott specifically identifies Israeli film festivals such as the Jerusalem Film Festival and Docaviv as examples of institutions continuing to partner with the Israeli government. Signatories argue that despite operating in Israel, most film institutions have not endorsed the full, internationally recognized rights of Palestinians, prompting this collective action to address and end complicity in the crisis.