- Actress Tilda Swinton shares advice against President Trump
At the buzzing Berlin Film Festival, the illustrious Oscar-winning actress, Tilda Swinton (64), graced the occasion with her presence and received an award for her lifetime achievements. Utilizing her acceptance speech as a platform, Swinton didn't shy away from delivering a politically charged message, critiquing the U.S. President without mentioning his name directly.
Draw a parallel to the silver screen, and one can enter an "unbounded realm," Swinton said. A realm where immunity is granted from attempts of colonization, takeover, or development like in the Riviera.
In a surprising turn of events last week, the President made a statement about the United States taking control of the Gaza Strip, aiming to economically develop and transform it into a "Northeast Riviera."
"The cruelty is carried out under our watch," Swinton declared. In her speech, she voiced her concerns against oppressive governments, stating that "mass murder perpetrated by the state and facilitated internationally is currently active in more than one part of our world." She accused these governments of being condemned by the bodies set up to oversee unacceptable practices to the human community.
"The cruelty is carried out under our watch," she emphasized, strongly condemning the complacency of greedy governments that pander to planet destroyers and war criminals, regardless of their origins.
Director Edward Berger, an Oscar nominee, praised Swinton, calling her a "fearless fighter" in his laudatory speech. He admired her style, wit, deep humanity, wisdom, truthfulness, honesty, and her ability to be funny, whether comical or over the top.
Swinton, one of the most renowned actresses, was last seen in Pedro Almodóvar's Venice winner, "The Room Next Door." Previously, she won an Oscar for her supporting role in the thriller "Michael Clayton" (2007).
Tilda Swinton's fiery speech at the 2025 Berlin Film Festival, honored with the Golden Bear award, highlighted her call for accountability against state-perpetrated crimes. However, specific details about her critiques of President Trump's comments regarding the Gaza Strip are not provided in the sources. The Berlin Film Festival has faced controversy in the past due to political issues, particularly those related to Israel and Palestine. This year, the festival aims to maintain an open dialogue and discourse, screening a documentary about an Israeli actor held hostage by Hamas[1][2].
President Trump's comments about the Gaza Strip, as reported by Amnesty International, were highly criticized as a flagrant violation of international law and a war crime. They advocated for forcible deportation of Palestinians, which Amnesty International strongly condemned[3]. Swinton's speech, while not directly addressing Trump's comments, reflects a broader commitment to addressing state-perpetrated crimes and promoting an inclusive, borderless realm, free from policies of exclusion or persecution.
Swinton's call for accountability at the Berlin Film Festival echoed the ongoing discussion about political issues at the event, particularly those surrounding Israel and Palestine. Despite not directly mentioning President Trump, Swinton's speech aligned with the criticism of his Gaza Strip comments, which were deemed a violation of international law and a war crime by Amnesty International. Furthermore, Swinton's advocate for a borderless realm mirrors the objective of the Berlin Film Festival this year, which aims to maintain an open dialogue and screen a documentary about an Israeli actor held hostage by Hamas.
