Stay up to date with notifications from The IndependentNotifications can be managed in browser preferences.Jump to contentThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged inAllNewsSportCultureLifestyleAcclaimed Spanish director Pedro Almodóvar stated that filmmakers have a "moral duty" to speak out about politics, criticising US president Donald Trump during the Cannes Film Festival. Almodóvar, promoting his new film Bitter Christmas, condemned Trump's attacks on free speech and urged European countries to prevent similar political forces from gaining power. He emphasised that "silence and fear is a symptom that things are going badly" and that “we have to act as a shield against this madness”.His views contrast with those of filmmaker Wim Wenders, who, at the Berlin Film Festival, argued that filmmakers should "stay out of politics" and be the "counterweight of politics". Actor Javier Bardem, a vocal supporter of Palestine, also spoke about politics at Cannes, informing the press that he feared retaliation for his activism but affirming his readiness to face “consequences”. In fullOscar-winning filmmaker Pedro Almodóvar says directors have a ‘moral duty’ to be politicalThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in
Leading director says filmmakers ‘have to’ speak on politics
Stay up to date with notifications from The IndependentNotifications can be managed in browser preferences.Jump to contentThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged inAllNewsSportCultureLifestyleAcclaimed Spanish director Pedro Almodóvar stated that filmmakers have a "moral duty" to speak out about politics, criticising US president Donald Trump during the Cannes Film Festival. Almodóvar, promoting his new film Bitter Christmas, condemned Trump's attacks on free speech and urged European countries to prevent similar political forces from gaining power. He emphasised that "silence and fear is a symptom that things are going badly" and that “we have to act as a shield against this madness”.His views contrast with those of filmmaker Wim Wenders, who, at the Berlin Film Festival, argued that filmmakers should "stay out of politics" and be the "counterweight of politics". Actor Javier Bardem, a vocal supporter of Palestine, also spoke about politics at Cannes, informing the press that he feared retaliation for his activism but affirming his readiness to face “consequences”. In fullOscar-winning filmmaker Pedro Almodóvar says directors have a ‘moral duty’ to be politicalThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in
