Oscar-winning actor Susan Sarandon stated at the Venice Film Festival that she continues to lose film roles due to her outspoken public support for Palestinians, even as public opinion shifts. According to reporting, the 79-year-old actor reported that major studios and casting agencies are still actively blocking her from employment following her appearance at pro-Palestinian rallies in 2023.
Career Impact and Studio Blacklisting After Activism
Sarandon told reporters in Venice that the professional repercussions of her activism remain very real. “I’ve still had movies taken away recently because there are agencies that are telling people not to hire me still,” she said. She noted that resistance is particularly heavy among major studios.
Did you know? Susan Sarandon won an Academy Award for Dead Man Walking.
The actor was dropped by her longstanding talent agency, UTA, in 2023. That decision followed remarks she made at a pro-Palestinian rally a month after the Hamas attack on Israel, where she told attendees that many people fearful of being Jewish today are “getting a taste of what it feels like to be a Muslim in this country.” Despite losing studio backing, Sarandon expressed gratitude toward filmmaker Andrea Pallaoro for casting her in her latest project, The Echo Chamber.
Shifting Public Opinion and Industry Divisions
While studio doors remain closed, Sarandon argued that public perception of the conflict has fundamentally evolved. “I think that the narrative has completely changed in terms of the historical relevance of Palestine and the ties of Zionists with America and our politics,” she stated at the festival press conference. Recent US opinion polls indicate that support for Israel has softened while sympathy for Palestinians has grown since the war began in 2023.
The geopolitical tensions surrounding the Middle East have also permeated the Venice Film Festival itself. Activists on the ground have urged festival organizers to fly the Palestinian flag in honor of Palestinian directors showing their work at the event. However, according to artistic director Alberto Barbera, raising the flag is impossible because Italy does not formally recognize the state of Palestine. Barbera instead highlighted that the Lido lineup features multiple films documenting the struggles of ordinary Palestinians.
The Echo Chamber at the Venice Film Festival
Sarandon is in Italy to promote The Echo Chamber, which is one of 21 films competing for the Golden Lion award, scheduled to be presented on September 12. Adapted from a final screenplay by Italian filmmaker Bernardo Bertolucci, the movie features Sarandon as an aging singer. Her character hires a music producer recovering from drug addiction to help work on a comeback album.
Co-starring alongside Alicia Vikander and Luca Marinelli, Sarandon received prolonged applause from the news conference audience after declaring that she found her artistic community despite industry blacklisting. “I found my family, I found my people and I’m OK,” she told journalists.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was Susan Sarandon dropped by her agency?
UTA dropped Sarandon in 2023 following remarks she delivered at a pro-Palestinian rally held shortly after the Hamas massacre.
What is Susan Sarandon’s latest film at Venice?
Sarandon stars in The Echo Chamber, a film adapted from a screenplay by Bernardo Bertolucci that is competing for the Golden Lion at the Venice film festival.
What has Alberto Barbera said about the Palestinian flag requests?
Venice artistic director Alberto Barbera stated that this is impossible because Italy does not formally recognize the state of Palestine.
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