On Friday, Paramount took a definitive stand against a proposed boycott aimed at Israel’s film industry by a grassroots collective going by the name Film Workers for Palestine, which includes several noted personalities from Hollywood.
This week, the group published an open letter announcing they would cease support for Israeli film festivals, production firms, and other entities they accuse of partaking in ‘genocide and apartheid’ against Palestinians.
Among the hundreds who have signed this letter are prominent filmmakers like Jonathan Glazer, Ava DuVernay, Yorgos Lanthimos, Emma Stone, Joaquin Phoenix, Rooney Mara, Olivia Colman, and Mark Ruffalo.
According to their statement, “As creators and contributors to the film industry, we understand cinema’s profound influence on public perception. During this critical crisis, where government actions contribute to the devastation in Gaza, it’s essential for us to confront any complicity in such atrocities.”
The collective vowed “not to showcase films, attend, or collaborate with Israeli film institutions—including festivals, cinemas, broadcasters, and production houses” implicated in the violence against Palestinians. They liken their actions to filmmakers participating in the South African boycott during the apartheid era, a significant global effort that played a part in changing the country’s regime.
Paramount, which was recently acquired by the Larry Ellison family and the investment firm RedBird Capital Partners, has clearly expressed its disagreement with the campaign mounted by these filmmakers.
In a statement released via email, the company noted, “We believe in the power of storytelling to connect and inspire, enhance understanding, and commemorate the events and ideas that shape our world. We do not support recent calls to boycott Israeli filmmakers. Silencing creative individuals because of their nationality is not the way to foster understanding or support peace among communities.”
Paramount is the first studio to take a visible position on this contentious topic. An insider, who requested anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the internal discussions, revealed that Paramount’s CEO David Ellison and the leadership felt a strong obligation to publicly oppose the boycott and believed that nationality should not determine artistic freedom.
Paramount emphasized, “The global entertainment industry should encourage artists to convey their narratives and engage with audiences worldwide. Increased engagement and dialogue are essential, not reduced channels of communication.”
In a response to Paramount’s comments, the group issued a statement to The Times, expressing that their pledge “doesn’t aim at individuals based on their identity,” but targets “complicit Israeli film institutions and organizations.”
They further stated, “We hope Paramount isn’t deliberately misrepresenting our stance in a bid to silence fellow members of the film community. Such actions would only protect a genocidal regime from rightful criticism, especially at a time when global outrage is at an all-time high and amidst many meaningful steps toward accountability.”
This report was initially published in Los Angeles Times.
