Speaking after receiving a Golden Bear for lifetime achievement, Swinton criticized “greed-addicted governments” without explicitly naming Ukraine, Gaza, or Donald Trump. According to The Hollywood Reporter, she denounced “entitled domination” and acts of mass violence that she deemed “unacceptable to human society.”
“These are facts,” she stated. “They need to be faced. The inhumane is being perpetrated on our watch. I’m here to name it—without hesitation or doubt—and to stand in unwavering solidarity with all those who reject the complacency of our greed-driven governments, who align themselves with planet wreckers and war criminals, wherever they come from.” She also appeared to take aim at Trump’s proposal to redevelop Gaza into a coastal resort, praising independent cinema as “an unlimited realm, innately inclusive, immune to efforts of occupation, colonization, takeover, ownership, or the development of riviera property.”
Swinton’s speech came after a vigil at the festival’s opening ceremony in support of Israeli actor David Cunio, who was taken hostage during the October 7 attack on Israel and remains in captivity. Festival artistic director Tricia Tuttle joined actors Christian Berkel, Andrea Sawatzki, and Ulrich Matthes in holding up a photo of Cunio. A documentary about him, A Letter to David, was set to premiere at the festival.
The 2024 edition of the Berlin Film Festival was marked by controversy over the Gaza conflict, with several participants condemning Israel and calling for a ceasefire. The backlash was swift, with German politicians criticizing the festival and Germany’s culture minister, Claudia Roth, denouncing the protests as “shockingly one-sided and characterized by deep hatred of Israel.” Tuttle later acknowledged that the controversy had led some filmmakers to reconsider attending, fearing censorship.
At a press conference following her Golden Bear win, Swinton addressed the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement’s calls to boycott the festival after the 2024 protests. She explained her decision to attend, saying, “I deeply respect BDS and think about it often, but I felt it was more useful for me to be here. The festival offered me a platform, and in a personal moment of reflection, I decided that using that platform was more valuable to our causes than staying away. It was my judgment call, and I take full responsibility for it.”
