honoring independent filmmakers, held in a beachfront tent in Santa Monica, California, a handful of award winners used their time on the stage to mention the protesters.“There are people speaking outside, and whatever they’re saying, I think it’s far more important than what I’m about to say,”while accepting the John Cassavetes Award for the film “Fremont,” as the chants could be heard in the distance. “I’m so inspired by what they’re saying outside, I can’t think of what I’m about to say.
Celebrities will happily turn their awards speeches into stirring rallying calls — but only for certain causes. Better not to ruffle too many feathers. Again, it’s completely understandable why talking about Gaza presents a particular challenge: The professional risk is very high. But that fact alone speaks volumes about where we are.
If “The Zone of Interest” wins the Oscar for International Feature Film as expected, hopefully Wilson and others behind the movie will choose to reiterate those sentiments. It would be a meaningful moment — and a welcome break from the silence.At HuffPost, we believe that everyone needs high-quality journalism, but we understand that not everyone can afford to pay for expensive news subscriptions.
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