Paramount Pictures issued a statement on Friday condemning a pledge by thousands including leading industry figures to boycott Israeli film institutions.
“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,” the statement read. “This is our creative mission.”
It 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.
“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 studio is the first of the Hollywood majors to speak out. It has done so after more than 3,900 people including Olivia Colman, Riz Ahmed, Tilda Swinton, Ken Loach, and Mark Ruffalo have signed a pledge organised by Film Workers For Palestine.
Initially published on Monday, the signatories have committed to not work with Israeli film institutions “implicated in genocide and apartheid against the Palestinian people”, in reference to Israel’s ongoing war in Gaza.
Jerusalem, Haifa and Docaviv festivals were cited as relevant institutions, alongside Israeli broadcasters and Israeli production, distribution and sales companies.
The pledge organisers have said they do not advocate a boycott of all Israeli individuals, adding: “This refusal takes aim at institutional complicity, not identity.”
Earlier this week in response to the pledge, Israeli Producers Association said: “The signatories of this petition are targeting the wrong people […] We work with Palestinian creators, telling our shared stories and promoting peace and an end to violence through thousands of films, TV series, and documentaries. This call for a boycott is profoundly misguided.”