French-American actor Timothy Chalamet warned against the danger of following “cult-like” leaders while Scottish actress Tilda Swinton descried what she called “internationally enabled mass murder”, delivering powerful messages in appearances at the Berlinale film festival.

Chalamet, who stars in the Oscar-tipped Bob Dylan bio-pic “A Complete Unknown”, told a packed press conference at the Berlinale film festival on Friday that he had learned from playing Dylan to be wary of cult leaders.

“I think it’s in the nature of his music, the warnings against cult-like figures,” Chalamet said in an appearance timed with the German opening of his film.

“And I think that Bob was very true to — I won’t speak for him because he’s alive and well in Malibu — but my interpretation is, just be wary of any saviour-like figures…anyone who says they have a solution, be wary.”

Swinton meanwhile used the platform afforded her by receiving a Berlinale lifetime achievement award on Thursday to take a swipe at right-wing movements and other powers which, without mentioning the crisis in Gaza or the plight of the Palestinians, she said were causing “mass murder”.

In remarks transcribed by The Hollywood Reporter, Swinton descried what she called the “entitled domination and the astonishing savagery of spite, state-perpetrated and internationally enabled mass murder… unacceptable to human society. These are facts. They need to be faced.

“So for the sake of clarity, let’s name it. The inhumane is being perpetrated on our watch. I’m here to name it without hesitation or doubt in my mind, and to lend my unwavering solidarity to all those who recognize the unacceptable complacency of our greed-addicted governments who make nice with planet wreckers and war criminals, wherever they come from.”

While Swinton spoke, demonstrators outside the Berlinale Palast demanded the release of David Cunio, one of the Israelis taken hostage in the October 7, 2023 Hamas raid on Israel. A documentary featuring Cunio’s twin brother Eitan portraying their close bond and pleading for his release, is being shown at the festival.
— Michael Roddy