Foreign Oscar nominees unite to flay policies

directors of all five Oscar-nominated foreign language films on Friday denounced what they called a “climate of fanaticism and nationalism” in the US and elsewhere, and dedicated their Academy Award to the cause of unity and free expression.

The directors from Iran, Sweden, Germany, Denmark and Australia spoke out in a statement as hundreds of people attended a rally on the eve of Oscar weekend, organised by one of Hollywood’s biggest talent agencies in support of freedom of expression and unity.

Iranian film director Asghar Farhadi is boycotting Sunday’s Oscar ceremony in protest at US President Donald Trump’s bid to ban travel from seven majority Muslim nations.

Speaking to the rally in a video from Tehran, Farhadi denounced politicians whom he said are “trying to promote hate but creating divisions between cultures, traditions and nationalities.”

Farhadi was also part of the group that attacked “divisive walls,” and the divisions of “genders, colours, religions and sexualities” in current politics.

“We would like to express our unanimous and emphatic disapproval of the climate of fanaticism and nationalism we see today in the US and in so many other countries, in parts of the population and, most unfortunately of all, among leading politicians,” said the statement.

It was signed by Farhadi director of The Salesman, Martin Zandvliet (Demark’s Land of Mine), Hannes Holm (Sweden’s A Man Called Ove), Maren Ade (Germany’s Toni Erdmann), and Martin Butler and Bentley Dean (Australia’s Tanna.)

The directors said that “regardless of who wins the Academy Award for best foreign language film on Sunday, we refuse to think in terms of borders.”

They further said that no matter who picks up the Oscar, the golden statuette would be dedicated to those working toward unity.

Their statement echoed speeches at the Beverly Hills rally, attended by actors Jodie Foster, Michael J Fox Keegan-Michael Key.

Foster urged the crowd of about 500 people to take action to defend civil liberties and democracy. “It’s our time to show up and demand answers. It’s our time to tell our elected officials to do their job (and) that we will not tolerate chaos, ineptitude and war mongering,” the two-time Academy Award winner said.