After nearly 4,000 filmmakers, writers, actors and crew members signed a petition calling for a boycott of Israeli film institutions and collaborations amid the war in Gaza, Hollywood is starting to push back. Paramount Pictures became the first major studio to issue a statement distancing itself from the initiative, which was launched by the group Film Workers for Palestine and endorsed by stars including Emma Stone, Joaquin Phoenix, Rooney Mara, Mark Ruffalo, Harris Dickinson, Olivia Colman and Andrew Garfield.
“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 studio said in a statement. “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. 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.”
The comments align with Paramount executives’ past positions since October 7, including their backing of the Israeli documentary "We Will Dance Again, about the Nova festival massacre. The studio also supported other Israeli-led productions and was involved in the firing of actress Melissa Barrera from the "Scream" franchise over her comments against Israel. The pushback also comes as Paramount merges with David Ellison’s Skydance Media. Ellison, an American Jewish conservative and outspoken supporter of Israel, is expected to play a central role in setting the new company’s direction.
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From right, Olivia Colman, Javier Bardem and Tilda Swinton have signed the boycott petition against Israeli film institutions over Gaza war
(Photos: AP, Getty Images)
Unlike statements of solidarity with Ukraine’s cultural boycott, Paramount’s response avoided explicit political commentary on the war in Gaza. Instead it framed the petition as undermining artistic freedom and cross-cultural collaboration. While many of the signatories — among them acclaimed directors Yorgos Lanthimos, Adam McKay, Jonathan Glazer, Boots Riley, Javier Bardem, Tilda Swinton, Riz Ahmed, Gael García Bernal, Lily Gladstone, Guy Pearce, Elliot Page and Josh Oppenheimer — have little or no realistic prospect of working with Israeli film funds or production houses, the gesture was widely seen as symbolic.
Several international documentary filmmakers admitted privately at the Toronto International Film Festival that, although they sympathize with the petition, they chose not to sign out of concern for losing Israeli funding streams critical to their projects. By contrast, Paramount’s position matters to Hollywood’s A-list. Against the backdrop of talks about a possible mega-merger with Warner Bros., its statement — mild as it was — could make others think twice before adding their names to the boycott or speaking out in similar terms.
Ultimately, industry insiders note, career and livelihood concerns often lead filmmakers and actors to align with the stance of the companies that sign their paychecks.