Global cinema professionals unite in solidarity with Palestine at Sundance Festival
Washington DC (Quds News Network) – A significant number of professionals in the global film industry have declared their support for Palestine in a joint statement, urging an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and rejecting bias and persecution against voices opposing Israel’s war of genocide.
Over the ten days of the festival, which commenced on January 18th, more than 700 cinema professionals signed a statement titled “Filmmakers for Palestine.” The signing continued after the conclusion of the festival, with the number of signatories surpassing six thousand in just the past few days.
Among the signatories were actors, directors, screenwriters, cinematographers, and public figures associated with the global film industry. Renowned names such as British directors Mike Leigh and Ken Loach, American actress Susan Sarandon, American artist and writer Molly Crabapple, American musician and activist Saul Williams, and Chinese visual artist Ai Weiwei participated. Noteworthy Arab signatories included Palestinian artist Larissa Sansour, Egyptian actor Ahmed Magdy, and Egyptian actress Rosaline Elbay.
The statement urged participants in the Sundance Festival to join voices calling for an immediate ceasefire and condemning the continuous attacks by Israel on Palestinians.
It called for placing Gaza at the forefront of their discussions throughout the festival. According to the statement, the signatories agreed to stand together to end genocide and for a free Palestine. They pledged to organize themselves to participate in any activities supporting their demands.
The statement notably highlighted media blackout on Israeli crimes, evident bias by several cultural institutions, and harassment faced by voices opposing aggression.
It noted that this gathering of filmmakers worldwide is a response to the war on Palestinians and the censorship of voices openly opposing Israel’s genocidal campaign. The signatories called for an end to the Israeli blockade on Gaza, the release of Palestinian prisoners, and urged the United States to cease its military aid to Israel.
The signatories declared their commitment to join the global solidarity movement calling for an immediate ceasefire and an end to the Gaza blockade that has lasted for 16 years.
They rejected double standards that imply only U.S. allies have the right to defend themselves and expected their shared cultural spaces to promote the safety of filmmakers, artists, and supporters advocating for Palestinian freedom.
The statement concluded with a call for filmmakers worldwide to use their platforms to shed light on the Palestinian struggle for freedom and to remind everyone that the lives of Palestinians are equal to those of others.
