Tilda Swinton Voices Support for BDS Movement at Berlinale

The Oscar-winning actress expressed admiration for the controversial campaign while accepting a lifetime achievement award at the Berlin Film Festival.

Tilda Swinton publicly praised the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement during a press conference at the Berlinale, calling herself a 'great admirer' of the campaign.
BDS advocates for economic, cultural, and academic boycotts of Israel, a stance that has been condemned by the German Bundestag as antisemitic.
Swinton clarified that her decision to attend the festival, despite a BDS-instigated boycott call, was a personal choice to use the platform for broader advocacy.
In her acceptance speech for the Berlinale’s Golden Honorary Bear, Swinton condemned all forms of mass violence but avoided explicit mentions of Israel or specific geopolitical conflicts.
Her comments have reignited debates about the intersection of art, politics, and activism, particularly in the context of cultural boycotts.