Tilda Swinton denounces "state-perpetrated and internationally enabled mass murder" at Berlinale

Tilda Swinton protested against ongoing international mass murder at the Berlin International Film Festival in her Honorary Golden Bear acceptance speech.

The Academy Award winner urged the audience not to "resign ourselves to a submission to entitled domination and the astonishing savagery of spite."

"State perpetrated and internationally enabled mass murder is currently actively terrorising more than one part of our world," said the actress. She added these actions are "currently condemned by the very bodies specifically set up by humans to monitor things on Earth unacceptable to human society."

"These are facts," Swinton continued. "They need to be faced. So, for the sake of clarity, let's name it. The inhumane is being perpetrated on our watch."

Swinton also complained about "greed-addicted governments who make nice with planet-wreckers and war criminals, wherever they come from."

Although no specific country or politician was named by the actress, her comments were made after Donald Trump's recent Gaza proposal, seen by many as actively calling for the removal of the Palestinian people from Gaza.

Swinton called cinema "an unlimited realm, innately inclusive, immune to efforts of occupation, colonisation, takeover, ownership or the development of Riviera property."

Trump had previously said Gaza could become the "Riviera of the Middle East" after the US and Israel "take over" it and "own it," so that Palestinians can live in "peace and harmony" elsewhere.

The Berlinale has been the subject of controversy since last year, when several winners used their acceptance speeches to protest Israel's actions in Gaza. For instance, Ben Russell, co-director of Direct Action, winner of the Encounters Golden Bear Plaque for Best Film, described Israel's actions as "genocide."

Prior to the beginning of this year's edition, pro-Palestine associations, such as the Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel or Film Workers for Palestine, had called for boycotting the festival for not condemning Israeli military actions in Gaza.

In this year's opening ceremony a vigil has held in support of David Cunio, an Israeli actor taken hostage in the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel. Tricia Tuttle, the festival's artistic director, and actors Christian Berkel, Andrea Sawatzki, and Ulrich Matthes upheld a photo of Cunio.

The group behind the vigil, named Bring David Home Now, published an open letter calling "for the immediate release of David, his brother Ariel, and the many dozens of Israeli hostages who are being held in the tunnels of Gaza."

Swinton was asked about her decision not to boycott this year's Berlinale edition in a press conference following her Golden Bear speech. "I was given, thanks to the festival, a platform which I decided in a personal moment was potentially more useful to all our causes than me not turning up," she replied. "It was a personal judgment call that I take full responsibility for."