Oscars: Javier Bardem calls for 'Free Palestine' and ignores Iranian opponents
The Spanish actor was the only one of the evening to mention the war in Gaza
Spanish actor Javier Bardem made a notable political statement at the 98th Academy Awards, using his brief stage time to express support for Palestine.
While presenting the Oscar for Best International Feature Film, Bardem declared, “No to war and free Palestine,” and wore a pro-Palestinian badge, making him the only presenter to reference the Gaza conflict, which ended in October.
Most speeches and remarks at this year’s Oscars focused on domestic issues in the United States, including social justice, diversity in Hollywood, and political debates surrounding American elections.
The Best International Feature Film award was ultimately won by the Norwegian family drama Sentimental Value, a film without political themes. Also nominated was It Was Just an Accident, directed by Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi, who has long been an outspoken critic of the Iranian regime. Panahi, who has faced multiple arrests, was recently sentenced in absentia to one year in prison in Iran, but this was not mentioned during the ceremony.
Another nominee, screenwriter Mehdi Mahmoudian, was briefly arrested in January due to his support for the Iranian protest movement and released after two weeks. His situation also went unaddressed during the Oscars. Other politically oriented films, including The Voice of Hind Rajab, similarly received limited attention in the lead-up to the event.
Access restrictions further affected representation, as actor Motaz Malhees was unable to attend after being denied a U.S. visa under new policies that complicate entry for Palestinians.