When the petition was first published on 8 September, it had more than 1,300 signatures from well-known figures such as Olivia Colman, Mark Ruffalo, Riz Ahmed, Tilda Swinton, Javier Bardem and Susan Sarandon, alongside directors including Yorgos Lanthimos, Ava DuVernay and Adam McKay. Support for the petition has since risen quickly to over 4,000 signatures.
The petition rejects collaboration with Israeli film institutions, including festivals, cinemas, broadcasters and production companies.
It stressed that actors, filmmakers and workers in the cinema industry recognize the power of film in shaping public opinion.
The petition also stated: “Many governments are supporting the massacre in Gaza, and we must do everything in our power not to be complicit in this brutal horror”.
It further pointed out that the International Court of Justice has ruled there is a risk of genocide in Gaza, and that Israel’s occupation and practice of apartheid against Palestinians are unlawful.
