High-Profile Celebrities and Filmmakers Voice Concern Over Israel’s Actions in Gaza
Joaquin Phoenix, Juliette Binoche, Pedro Pascal, Riz Ahmed, and director Guillermo del Toro are among the prominent figures who have voiced their dismay at the film industry’s quiet response to the severe consequences of Israel’s military actions in Gaza. They expressed their concerns through a letter, which was circulated as the Cannes Film Festival commenced.
This letter, initially endorsed by over 370 members of the cinematic community, specifically criticized the killing of Fatma Hassona, a key figure in the documentary “Put Your Soul in Your Hand and Walk,” which was set to be featured at the festival.
New endorsers of the letter include notable personalities such as Rooney Mara, Jim Jarmusch, Omar Sy, Peter Straughan, Camille Cottin, Michael Moore, Boots Riley, and Alice Rohrwacher, expanding the reach and impact of its message.
Call to Action for the Film Industry
The letter highlights the film industry’s potential as a platform for socially impactful works. It calls on filmmakers and the industry at large to draw inspiration from historical events to create meaningful art and to stand up for those who are oppressed.
Initial signatories of the document included well-known figures like Mark Ruffalo, Guy Pearce, Ralph Fiennes, Melissa Barrera, Yorgos Lanthimos, Javier Bardem, Hannah Einbinder, Pedro Almodóvar, David Cronenberg, Alfonso Cuarón, Mike Leigh, Alex Gibney, Viggo Mortensen, Cynthia Nixon, and Tessa Ross.
The letter detailed the tragic story of Fatma Hassona, a 25-year-old Palestinian freelance photojournalist who was targeted and killed by the Israeli military on April 16, 2025. This attack occurred one day after the announcement that Sepideh Farsi’s film featuring Hassona had been selected for the ACID section at Cannes. Hassona was preparing for her wedding, and the strike also claimed the lives of ten of her relatives, including her pregnant sister.
Since the brutal events of October 7, 2023, the Gaza Strip has been inaccessible to foreign journalists. The letter accuses the Israeli military of deliberately targeting over 200 journalists, writers, filmmakers, and artists, emphasizing the devastating impact on the cultural and creative communities.
The letter also recounts the incident involving Palestinian filmmaker Hamdan Ballal, an Oscar winner, who was attacked by Israeli settlers and later detained by the military. This incident led to significant backlash within the Academy, prompting a public apology for their lack of action.
The letter concludes with a powerful call to the film industry, questioning the silence and urging those involved to use their platforms and voices to challenge oppression and injustice. It emphasizes the responsibility of the arts to confront and engage with reality, rather than allowing propaganda to distort public perception and humanity.
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With a plea for action, the letter aims to inspire the global film community to actively participate in bringing about change and raising awareness about the ongoing issues in Gaza. It underscores the importance of cinema in reflecting societal issues and carrying the messages of those who suffer in silence.
The newly added signatories further underline the growing concern within the global artistic community about the situation in Gaza and the need for a more vocal and unified response from the industry.
Riz Ahmed, Tomas Alfredson, Jalal Al Tawil, and many others have joined the original signers in this renewed call for awareness and action, making it clear that the global film community remains deeply concerned about the human rights situation in Gaza and the broader Middle East.
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