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March 13, 2024
Pro-Palestine Protests at the 96th Oscars
From the director of “The Zone of Interest” and celebrities to civilian protests, people are making their voices heard at the Oscars. By Ching Wai.
US - Protests from activists blocked traffic and left many stranded in their vehicles, resulting in a six minute delay of the 96th Oscars on Sunday, 10 March. Some Hollywood executives, including Disney chief Bob Iger, Amazon executive Jennifer Salke, and Paramount’s Brian Robbins, were also delayed for at least an hour due to the demonstrations. The Free Palestine March in Los Angeles came from the collaboration between the Writers Against the War on Gaza LA (WAWOG), Film Workers For Palestine, SAG-AFTRA Members for Ceasefire and more organisations. They call for ceasefire in Gaza, “No awards during a genocide!”
The Academy had to give attendees rides to the event in golf carts, and private security attempted to help escort arrivals through the protest. Despite the delays and confusion, the broadcast ran smoothly and showed no hint of the chaos. Yet, while the protests off-screen were left invisible to those watching the broadcast, the shared sentiment was clear as celebrities like Billie Eilish, Ramy Youssef, Eugene Lee Yang, and Mark Ruffalo, wore a red pin representing Artists4Ceasefire to the awards ceremony. Many including Andrew Garfield, Kristen Stewart, and Oscar Isaac, have been vocal about the war as well, having signed a letter calling for an “immediate de-escalation and ceasefire in Gaza and Israel before another life is lost”.
Most notably, Zone of Interest director Jonathan Glazer talked about the ongoing conflict in Gaza in his acceptance speech. “Right now, we stand here as men who refute their Jewishness and the Holocaust being hijacked by an occupation, which has led to conflict for so many innocent people - whether the victims of October the 7th in Israel or the ongoing attack on Gaza - all the victims of this dehumanisation… how do we resist?” Glazer said, with his hand slightly trembling. The director commented on the parallels between his film, which portrays the atrocities of the Holocaust, and the present Israel-Palestine war. It is heartening to see that while films and filmmakers were appreciated that night, the horrors and atrocities that are happening in the present reality are not ignored.
