Oscar foreign-language nominees: ‘We refuse to think in terms of borders'

Denmark’s Martin Zandvliet, Sweden’s Hannes Holm, Iran’s Asghar Farhadi, Germany’s Maren Ade, and Martin Butler and Bentley Dean from Australia decried the wave of nationalism that has taken root in the US and may other countries.

The six filmmakers (Australia’s Tanna is directed by two people) dedicated the foreign-language Oscar – regardless of who wins on Sunday – to “all the people, artists, journalists and activists who are working to foster unity and understanding, and who uphold freedom of expression and human dignity – values whose protection is now more important than ever.”

As previously reported, Farhadi is boycotting the ceremony in protest over US president Donald Trump’s short-lived executive order banning entry to citizens from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Syria, Yemen, Sudan and Somalia.

The order has been blocked by the US courts, although Trump has said he will attempt to push through similar measures.

Farhadi has chosen two Iranians – female engineer and astronaut Anousheh Ansari and former NASA director for solar system exploration Firouz Naderi –  to attend the Oscars and accept the prize on his behalf should The Salesman win.

The statement in full:

“On behalf of all nominees, we would like to express our unanimous and emphatic disapproval of the climate of fanaticism and nationalism we see today in the U.S. and in so many other countries, in parts of the population and, most unfortunately of all, among leading politicians.

“The fear generated by dividing us into genders, colors, religions and sexualities as a means to justify violence destroys the things that we depend on – not only as artists but as humans: the diversity of cultures, the chance to be enriched by something seemingly “foreign” and the belief that human encounters can change us for the better. These divisive walls prevent people from experiencing something simple but fundamental: from discovering that we are all not so different.

“So we’ve asked ourselves: What can cinema do? Although we don’t want to overestimate the power of movies, we do believe that no other medium can offer such deep insight into other people’s circumstances and transform feelings of unfamiliarity into curiosity, empathy and compassion – even for those we have been told are our enemies.

“Regardless of who wins the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film on Sunday, we refuse to think in terms of borders. We believe there is no best country, best gender, best religion or best color. We want this award to stand as a symbol of the unity between nations and the freedom of the arts.

“Human rights are not something you have to apply for. They simply exist – for everybody. For this reason, we dedicate this award to all the people, artists, journalists and activists who are working to foster unity and understanding, and who uphold freedom of expression and human dignity – values whose protection is now more important than ever.

“By dedicating the Oscar to them, we wish to express to them our deep respect and solidarity.

“Martin Zandvliet – Land of mine (Denmark)
Hannes Holm – A Man called Ove (Sweden)
Asghar Farhadi – The Salesman (Iran)
Maren Ade – Toni Erdmann (Germany)
Martin Butler, Bentley Dean – Tanna (Australia).”