The director of the Holocaust centred film The Zone of Interest used his acceptance speech at last night’s Oscars to call for an end to the “dehumanising” of victims in Gaza.
Jonathan Glazer took to the stage to accept the Oscar for best international film and told the packed auditorium that “All our choices are made to reflect and confront us in the present. Not to say, ‘Look what they did then,’ rather ‘Look what we do now.’ Our film shows where dehumanisation leads at its worst.”
“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 7 in Israel or the ongoing attack in Gaza.”
His speech received widespread applause.
A number of attendees wore red pins to the Academy Awards showing their solidarity with Artists4Ceasefire, which has called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. They include Billie Ellish, Mark Ruffalo and Ramy Youssaf.