At Sundance Film Festival, the usually apolitical event took on a decidedly political tone as attendees grappled with recent high-profile killings in Minnesota and their connection to ICE. A fatal shooting of a nurse, Alex Pretti, who was killed by an ICE agent while asking a question during a panel on freedom of expression, sent shockwaves through the festival.
As word of the killing spread, many Sundancers took to social media to express outrage and call for action against ICE. The phrase "ICE OUT" became a rallying cry, with stars like Natalie Portman, Olivia Wilde, and Zoey Deutch sporting pins at various panels and events. Meanwhile, Rep. Maxwell Frost, D-Fla., took to the social media platform X to share his own harrowing experience of being punched in the face by an anti-Trump assailant at a CAA party.
Despite the growing sense of urgency among some attendees, many film premieres and brand-sponsored lounges remained largely apolitical. However, as people watched videos of the killing on their cellphones, cognitive dissonance began to set in. Actor Jenna Ortega expressed her frustration, saying, "It's hard to be somewhere like this... wear nice outfits and talk about film, when something so ugly is happening right next to us."
Others, including actor Edward Norton, emphasized the need for action against ICE. The 2024 Sundance festival had seen a similar mobilization around social justice issues, with groups like Arabs in Utah shutting down Main Street to protest the conflict in Gaza.
As the festival continued, small crowds gathered on Main Street to hold anti-ICE signs and participate in solidarity rallies. Actress Kerry Washington spoke at a panel titled "Democracy On the Screen — And On The Line," while filmmaker Kogonada addressed the importance of empathy and humanity in the face of darkness.
While some celebrities expressed concern about feeling powerless against ICE, others took action. Olivia Wilde called for greater awareness and mobilization to delegitimize the organization. Natalie Portman emphasized the need to show up for one another and fight for freedom.
The Sundance Film Festival has long been a platform for social justice activism, but this year's event highlighted the increasingly complex and divisive nature of contemporary politics. As attendees navigated these challenging issues, they were reminded that art can be both a source of comfort and a call to action.
As word of the killing spread, many Sundancers took to social media to express outrage and call for action against ICE. The phrase "ICE OUT" became a rallying cry, with stars like Natalie Portman, Olivia Wilde, and Zoey Deutch sporting pins at various panels and events. Meanwhile, Rep. Maxwell Frost, D-Fla., took to the social media platform X to share his own harrowing experience of being punched in the face by an anti-Trump assailant at a CAA party.
Despite the growing sense of urgency among some attendees, many film premieres and brand-sponsored lounges remained largely apolitical. However, as people watched videos of the killing on their cellphones, cognitive dissonance began to set in. Actor Jenna Ortega expressed her frustration, saying, "It's hard to be somewhere like this... wear nice outfits and talk about film, when something so ugly is happening right next to us."
Others, including actor Edward Norton, emphasized the need for action against ICE. The 2024 Sundance festival had seen a similar mobilization around social justice issues, with groups like Arabs in Utah shutting down Main Street to protest the conflict in Gaza.
As the festival continued, small crowds gathered on Main Street to hold anti-ICE signs and participate in solidarity rallies. Actress Kerry Washington spoke at a panel titled "Democracy On the Screen — And On The Line," while filmmaker Kogonada addressed the importance of empathy and humanity in the face of darkness.
While some celebrities expressed concern about feeling powerless against ICE, others took action. Olivia Wilde called for greater awareness and mobilization to delegitimize the organization. Natalie Portman emphasized the need to show up for one another and fight for freedom.
The Sundance Film Festival has long been a platform for social justice activism, but this year's event highlighted the increasingly complex and divisive nature of contemporary politics. As attendees navigated these challenging issues, they were reminded that art can be both a source of comfort and a call to action.
I'm seriously shaken by what happened at Sundance... an ICE agent just goes around shooting people who ask questions? 
It's like, we're supposed to be celebrating film and creativity, but the real story is the systemic violence that's happening right next door. 
I feel so bad for Alex Pretti's family and loved ones, RIP 
Can't we just take a stand against hate & oppression without having to justify it with some tokenistic tweet? 
We need more voices like Olivia Wilde's and Natalie Portman's, calling for change and accountability. And I'm so proud of ppl like Kerry Washington and Kogonada who used their platforms to amplify the importance of empathy & humanity. 
. I mean, an ICE agent just shot a nurse who was asking questions during a panel? That's just horrific 
. And yeah, it's also super frustrating when you're trying to enjoy a film premiere or a fancy lounge, but there's something like this happening right next to you 
.
. And let's be real, if we're gonna take action, we gotta do it together 
. No more feeling powerless – it's time to get loud and show up for each other! 
meanwhile, i'm just over here thinking that a few pins and some solidarity rallies aren't gonna make a huge difference in the grand scheme of things 
I think it's awesome how Sundance went from being all chill about film to a full-on protest fest 
ICE OUT is definitely not a phrase you see every day 
Rep Maxwell Frost's story adds a whole new level of weight to the issue, and it's sick that he got punched for speaking out against Trump 
Jenna Ortega's frustration about feeling out of place is totally valid though 
And Kogonada's emphasis on empathy and humanity is so important in these dark times 
. And then you see these celebrities using their platforms to call out ICE and demand action - finally, some people are speaking up! 
. It's like, where's the outrage? Where's the empathy? We need to be using our privilege and platform to make a difference, not just tweeting about it 
.
why do people have to get hurt like that? i dont understand how someone can just shoot another person for asking a question 
and whats with the ice out thing? i saw some celebs wearing it on their lanyards and i was like what does that even mean 
do they just put ice in their drinks now 
I love how actress Kerry Washington spoke about democracy on screen and off... it's a call to action, for sure! And Olivia Wilde's call for awareness and mobilization is so important 
. It really makes you wonder how we can even begin to bridge that gap and feel like our voices are being heard.
.