Over 4,000 Hollywood Professionals Boycott Israeli Film Institutions Over Palestine

Over 4,000 actors, directors, and film professionals have signed a pledge organized by Film Workers for Palestine to boycott Israeli film institutions accused of complicity in genocide and apartheid against Palestinians. The boycott targets entities such as the Jerusalem Film Festival, Haifa International Film Festival, and various production companies, with signatories including prominent Hollywood stars like Emma Stone, Olivia Colman, Joaquin Phoenix, and Ava DuVernay. This large-scale cultural boycott marks a significant shift in Hollywood, where public political action on such international issues is rare, especially given the historical U.S. support for Israel. Critics of the boycott argue that it amplifies hate and aligns with the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement, which openly opposes the existence of the Israeli state. Supporters draw parallels to past artistic boycotts, such as those against apartheid South Africa, emphasizing a moral imperative to address the ongoing conflict and humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The Israeli Film and TV Producers Association has condemned the boycott as misguided, while some observers note the boycott's contrast to Hollywood's limited public activism on related issues like the release of hostages.