Tilda Swinton condemns “internationally enabled mass murder” at Berlin Film Festival
After receiving an honourary ‘Golden Bear’ at the Berlin Film Festival on February 13th, actor Tilda Swinton has condemned atrocities going on across the world which she described as “internationally enabled mass murder”.
In her speech, Swinton refrained from directly mentioning areas of conflict such as Ukraine or Gaza, but criticised “our greed-addicted governments”. She also said, per The Hollywood Reporter, these governments show “entitled domination and the astonishing savagery of spite, state-perpetrated and internationally enabled mass murder … unacceptable to human society”.
Swinton continued: “These are facts. They need to be faced. So for the sake of clarity, let’s name it. The inhumane is being perpetrated on our watch. I’m here to name it without hesitation or doubt in my mind, and to lend my unwavering solidarity to all those who recognise the unacceptable complacency of our greed-addicted governments who make nice with planet wreckers and war criminals, wherever they come from.”
Additionally, the British actor seemingly addressed President Donald Trump’s recent plans for Gaza, stating that independent cinema is “an unlimited realm, innately inclusive, immune to efforts of occupation, colonisation, takeover, ownership or the development of riviera property.”
Last year, the Berlin Film Festival was dominated by the conversation surrounding the conflict between Israel and Palestine, which involved mass protests.
However, at a press conference, Swinton has now explained why she chose not to follow the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions group’s demand for a boycott of the film festival. “I’m a great admirer of and have a great deal of respect for BDS and I think about it a lot. I am here today — and yesterday and tomorrow and the next day — because I decided to come, I decided it was more important for me to come,” she shared.
Swinton added: “I was given, thanks to the festival, a platform which I decided in a personal moment was potentially more useful to all our causes than me not turning up. It was a judgment, and a personal judgment call, that I take full responsibility for.”
The 75th Berlin Film Festival began on February 13th and will continue until February 23rd, 2025. Movies in competition include Richard Linklater’s Blue Moon and Michel Franco’s Dreams.
Never Miss A Scene
The Far Out Film Newsletter
All the latest film news from the independent voice of culture.
Straight to your inbox.