Pedro Almodovar, wearing a ‘Free Palestine’ pin, poses during the “Amarga Navidad” (Bitter Christmas) photocall at the 79th annual Cannes Film Festival at Palais des Festivals on 20 May 2026 in Cannes, France. [Getty]
Spanish filmmaker Pedro Almodovar called Donald Trump, Benjamin Netanyahu and Vladimir Putin “monsters” on Wednesday at the Cannes Film Festival, where he is presenting his latest film “Bitter Christmas” in competition.
“As Europeans, we are also obliged to become a kind of shield against these monsters like Trump, Netanyahu, or the Russian,” the director told a press conference, referring to the US, Russian and Israeli leaders.
An outspoken critic of Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza, the maker of “Talk to Her” and “Volver” wore a “Free Palestine” pin on his lapel.
Almodovar’s remarks echoed those of megastar actor Javier Bardem, who slammed the “toxic masculinity” of the three leaders in an expletive-laden tirade on Sunday and spoke of the changing narratives about Palestine in Hollywood.
“It doesn’t worry me because I’m lucky enough to be able to work. I’m lucky to be in a place where I can express myself knowing that I have job offers. I imagine there are people who are more afraid they won’t get called because of it, but that’s not my case,” Bardem, 57, had said.
“In fact, it’s the opposite, they’re calling even more because the narrative is changing,” said the Oscar winner. “Now it’s no longer as controlled by those who have always controlled it.
“Instead we now understand that there are consequences when you support or justify a genocide like the one that is happening. And society knows that,” he said.
