At Cannes, Almodovar says artists have duty to speak out against 'monsters' like Trump
At the Cannes Film Festival, Pedro Almodovar emphasized the responsibility of artists to address societal crises and speak out against figures he described as 'monsters,' including Donald Trump. He expressed that silence and fear indicate a decline in democracy and urged creators to act as a shield against such threats. Almodovar also discussed his latest film, 'Bitter Christmas,' and his ongoing passion for filmmaking.
- ▪Pedro Almodovar spoke at the Cannes Film Festival about the duty of artists to confront societal issues.
- ▪He referred to figures like Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin as 'monsters' that artists must oppose.
- ▪Almodovar's latest film, 'Bitter Christmas,' reflects his own creative journey and features themes of borrowing from personal experiences.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
At Cannes, Almodovar says artists have duty to speak out against 'monsters' like TrumpSign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inboxPublished May 21, 2026, 02:34 AMUpdated May 21, 2026, 02:34 AMCANNES, France, May 20 - Oscar-winning Spanish director Pedro Almodovar urged artists to speak out about the crises facing society on Wednesday, describing it as their moral duty against "monsters" like U.S. President Donald Trump."The creator, from their small platform, each from their own, must speak without mincing words," said Almodovar at the Cannes Film Festival after the premiere of his tragicomedy "Bitter Christmas.""Silence and fear - because it is clearly an expression of fear - are a very bad sign; they are a sign of the erosion of democracy," said the director considered a…
Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at Straits Times — World.