Tilda Swinton Attends Berlin Film Festival Amidst Boycott Calls, Citing Platform Importance
Berlin, Germany: Despite calls for a boycott of the Berlin Film Festival due to the war in Gaza, Oscar-winning actress Tilda Swinton has expressed her decision to attend, citing the significance of her platform.
At a press conference on Friday, Swinton acknowledged the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) Movement's concerns over the festival's treatment of filmmakers critical of the Gaza conflict. However, she emphasized her "great respect" for BDS and considered their perspective carefully.
"After much deliberation, I decided to attend the festival because I believe it provides me with a platform that can be beneficial to our shared causes," said Swinton. "I take full responsibility for this personal judgment call."
In her Thursday night speech, Swinton praised the festival as a "borderless realm without exclusion, persecution, or deportation." She denounced state-perpetrated violence and expressed solidarity with those opposing complacency in the face of human rights abuses.
Swinton has a long-standing relationship with the Berlin International Film Festival, having starred in numerous films selected for the event. She also served as the President of the festival's main jury in 2009.