Hannah Einbinder’s Cannes Debut and Unwavering Advocacy for Palestine

“Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma,” starring Hannah Einbinder as indie filmmaker Kris, opened the Cannes Un Certain Regard section on Wednesday night. The screening received a six-minute standing ovation, which Einbinder described as surreal. The film, a queer slasher co-directed by Jane Schoenbrun, explores sexuality, gender, and desire, and pairs Einbinder with Gillian Anderson’s original scream-queen character.

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At the Kering Women in Motion talk, Einbinder linked her Cannes appearance to a broader political stance, ending her remarks with a chant calling for an end to ICE, the liberation of Palestine, and support for the band Birds. She previously delivered the same chant at her Emmys acceptance speech in September, reinforcing her long-standing support for Palestinian rights. She acknowledged the risk of blacklisting, referencing Susan Sarandon and Melissa Barrera’s reported loss of work, and argued that remaining silent carries a higher personal cost than potential professional setbacks, placing personal priorities above career concerns.

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Einbinder’s comments intersect with fellow activists Susan Sarandon, Melissa Barrera, Mark Ruffalo, Javier Bardem, and director Jane Schoenbrun. Gillian Anderson co-stars in “Camp Miasma,” while Barrera expressed interest in future collaborations.

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Einbinder’s stance shows talent prioritizing human rights over career security, challenging Hollywood’s cautious culture. By linking a Cannes premiere to Palestinian advocacy, she amplifies calls for broader industry engagement with the Gaza conflict and underscores the personal risk actors face when confronting contentious geopolitical issues.

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Einbinder emphasized that silence imposes a greater personal toll and framed advocacy as an obligation outweighing potential career loss. Melissa Barrera, in a separate interview, confirmed she would welcome joint projects with Einbinder, Sarandon, Ruffalo, and Bardem, joking about a road-trip movie featuring the group.

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Sources cite Sarandon and Barrera’s alleged loss of work but provide no independent verification of blacklisting outcomes for Einbinder. No industry data quantifies the career impact of pro-Palestinian statements, leaving the extent of professional repercussions uncertain.

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• “She memorably ended her Emmys acceptance speech last September by declaring: “Fuck ICE, free Palestine and go Birds!” — Hannah Einbinder

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• “people in Hollywood, unfortunately, need these issues to affect a white person for them to see it as relating to them.” — Hannah Einbinder

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• “I think what they know is what I know, which is that the cost of not speaking is higher, you know?” — Hannah Einbinder

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• “There is a greater toll in not speaking and you just gotta have your priorities straight. I am under no impression that my one small career could ever measure up in comparison to even one human life. So, you know, it’s an obligation and I will always do it.” — Hannah Einbinder

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