Paramount rejects Israeli film boycott signed by Hollywood stars

Posted On September 13, 2025September 13, 2025

Paramount has condemned an attempted Israeli film boycott after almost 4,000 names in Hollywood signed a pledge not to work with Israeli film institutions.

The pledge was originally published on September 8th by Film Workers for Palestine. Names on the list come from far and wide across the industry, including directors such as Yorgos Lanthimos and Mike Leigh, to actors including Mark Ruffalo, Tilda Swinton, and Ayo Edibiri.

The statement cites examples of complicity with Israeli filmmaking companies such as “whitewashing or justifying genocide and apartheid, and/or partnering with the government committing them”. One example of this includes attendance at the Jerusalem Film Festival, which partners with the Israeli government. 

A further list of names who have committed themselves to the pledge includes the likes of Olivia Colman, Josh O’Connor, Ava DuVernay, Adam McKay, Andrew Garfield, Emma D’Arcy, Joaquin Phoenix, Joshua Oppenheimer, Hannah Einbinder, Paapa Essiedu, Gael Garcia Bernal, Riz Ahmed, Melissa Barrera, and Javier Bardem.

Per Variety, Paramount publicly distanced itself from the industry move. Chief communications officer Melissa Zukerman shared a statement that read: “At Paramount, we believe in the power of storytelling to connect and inspire people, promote mutual understanding, and preserve the moments, ideas, and events that shape the world we share. This is our creative mission.”

The statement continued, “We do not agree with recent efforts to boycott Israeli filmmakers. Silencing individual creative artists based on their nationality does not promote better understanding or advance the cause of peace.”

It added, “The global entertainment industry should be encouraging artists to tell their stories and share their ideas with audiences throughout the world. We need more engagement and communication — not less.”

This comes after Paramount was forced to pay DonaldTrump a $16 million settlement in a legal dispute after he took issue with an issue of the ’60 Minutes’ programme featuring Kamala Harris. Those affiliated with the pledge are yet to respond to Paramount’s position.

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