Introduction to the Boycott
Paramount Pictures recently released a statement on Friday, condemning the promise of thousands, including leading industry numbers, to boycott Israeli film institutions. The statement emphasized the power of storytelling in bringing people together, promoting mutual understanding, and preserving moments, ideas, and events that shape the world.
Statement from Paramount Pictures
The studio stated, "At Paramount, we believe in the power of storytelling to combine and inspire people, promote mutual understanding and to preserve moments, ideas and events that shape the world that we share." They continued, "We do not agree to the recent efforts to boycott Israeli filmmakers. The silent circuit of individual creative artists based on their nationality does not promote better understanding or promotes peace." Paramount Pictures emphasized the importance of encouraging artists to tell their stories and share their ideas with the audience around the world, stating, "We need more commitment and communication – nothing less."
The Boycott Promise
The studio’s statement came after more than 3,900 people, including Olivia Colman, Riz Ahmed, Tilda Swinton, Ken Loach, and Mark Ruffalo, signed a promise organized by film workers for Palestine. The signatories committed themselves not to work with Israeli film institutions that "are involved in genocide and apartheid against the Palestinian people" in relation to the ongoing war in Gaza. The festivals Jerusalem, Haifa, and Docaviv were cited as relevant institutions alongside Israeli channels and Israeli production, sales, and distribution companies.
Response to the Boycott
The organizers of the promise announced that the boycott targets Israeli institutions, not individuals, and added, "This rejection is the goal of institutional complicity and not on identity." In response to the promise, the Israeli producer association stated, "The signatories of this petition are aimed at the wrong people […] We work with Palestinian creators, tell our common stories and promote peace and an end to violence through thousands of films, TV series, and documentaries. This call for a boycott is deeply wrong."
Conclusion
Paramount Pictures is the first major Hollywood studio to speak out against the boycott, emphasizing the importance of promoting mutual understanding and encouraging artists to share their stories with the world. The boycott promise has sparked a debate about the role of film institutions in promoting peace and understanding, and the response from the Israeli producer association highlights the complexity of the issue.
