Updated
Updated · IndieWire · May 12
Cannes Jury Puts Politics at Center as 3 Korean Films Test Park Chan-wook's Neutrality
Updated
Updated · IndieWire · May 12

Cannes Jury Puts Politics at Center as 3 Korean Films Test Park Chan-wook's Neutrality

5 articles · Updated · IndieWire · May 12
  • Paul Laverty used Cannes' opening jury press conference to warn about corporate control of AI and denounce the alleged blacklisting of Susan Sarandon, Javier Bardem and Mark Ruffalo over pro-Gaza views.
  • Demi Moore and other jurors framed politics as inseparable from art, with Moore arguing against self-censorship and saying AI cannot replace the human spirit behind true artistic creation.
  • Park Chan-wook, the first Korean jury president in Cannes history, said he would judge fairly despite Korea's rising festival clout and 3 Korean films in this year's selection.
  • The political tone comes as Cannes and Berlin face recurring disputes over speech and Gaza, while the jury's leanings could shape the Palme d'Or and, increasingly, the Oscar race.
  • American studio presence is thin in competition this year, with only 2 U.S. films contending as Cannes chief Thierry Frémaux said he hopes studio titles return.
Is Hollywood's alleged silencing of actors part of a global trend to censor artists who criticize war?
What concrete proof exists of a Hollywood blacklist against actors with pro-Gaza views?
Where does Hollywood draw the line between an actor's political speech and their commercial viability?