(Cannes) Two of the members of the jury of 76e Cannes Film Festival, including its president Ruben Östlund, gave their support on Tuesday to the scriptwriters’ strike which is currently paralyzing Hollywood, during their traditional press conference.
“I think it’s great that people have a collective feeling strong enough to be able to go on strike,” said the Swedish director, winner of the Palme d’Or twice, notably in 2022 for Without filter.
“That’s how you can change your working conditions. I’m definitely… Yes, go for it! insisted the one who regularly defines himself as a “Marxist”, a few hours before the opening ceremony of the festival on Tuesday evening.
Thousands of American television and film screenwriters began a strike action on May 2 due to the failure of negotiations with the main studios and platforms relating in particular to an increase in their remuneration.
They are also demanding minimum guarantees to benefit from stable employment and a greater share of the profits generated by the development of streaming.
This social movement has an immediate impact on certain television programs, and in the longer term on series and films scheduled for release this year.
The last major social movement in Hollywood dates back to the scriptwriters’ strike which paralyzed the American audiovisual industry in 2007-2008. The 100-day conflict had cost the industry two billion dollars.
Actor Paul Dano, one of the eight members of the jury accompanying Östlund to award the Palme d’or, went in the same direction as Ruben Östlund, while his wife, actress and screenwriter Zoe Kazan, participates in the movement of protest.
“My wife is picketing with our six-month-old baby clinging to her chest and I’m going to join them when I leave here,” said the American actor and director, seen recently in Steven’s “The Fabelmans”. Spielberg.