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Foreign-language Oscar nominees denounce 'fanaticism' in US

By REUTERS

FEBRUARY 25, 2017 04:32

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. - The directors of all five Oscar-nominated foreign language films on Friday denounced what they called a "climate of fanaticism and nationalism" in the United States 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. The rally was organized by one of Hollywood's biggest talent agencies in support of freedom of expression and unity.

The statement and show-business rally in Beverly Hills followed a crackdown by US President Donald Trump on travel to the United States, and months of fiery speeches by celebrities at awards shows and marches.

Iranian film director Asghar Farhadi is boycotting Sunday's Oscar ceremony in protest of 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 by creating divisions between cultures, traditions and nationalities."

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