The 2025 Cannes Film Festival featured a strong call to action from actor , who encouraged filmmakers to use their work as a way to push back against the political situation in the United States under the . While promoting his new movie, Eddington, at the festival, Pascal gave an emotional speech about how storytelling can be a tool to fight against political chaos and fear-based tactics.

He stressed the importance of speaking out and continuing to create stories as a direct response to those trying to silence opposition. His words struck a chord with the audience, especially given the recent political events and the growing tension in the US.

According to Images, Pascal said, “F*** the people that try to make you scared. And fight back. This is the perfect way to do so in telling stories. Don’t let them win… Fear is the way that they win, for one. And so keep telling the stories and keep expressing yourself and keep fighting to be who you are.”

Pascal’s own background played a big role in shaping his message. As an immigrant whose parents escaped a dictatorship in Chile, sought asylum in Denmark, and later moved to the US, he spoke from deep personal experience about the need to protect vulnerable people. He shared his worries about the Trump administration’s immigration policies and admitted that many people are afraid of how these policies might affect them.

The government’s strict approach to illegal immigration, along with the detention and deportation of some legal residents, had created a sense of fear, which Pascal openly addressed. When even traffic tickets can get you deported, it’s hard to view the system as fair. Although he found it difficult to talk about specific immigration policies in public, his concern was clear, showing his support for those seeking safety and a new home.

Pedro Pascal at #Cannes: "I want people to be safe and protected. I want to live on the right side of history. I am an immigrant. My parents are refugees from Chile. We fled a dictatorship and I was privileged enough to grow up in the United States after asylum in Denmark. I… pic.twitter.com/n9rpIVurSZ

— Variety (@Variety) May 17, 2025

Pascal’s message was not the only one of its kind at Cannes. Other well-known figures shared similar worries. Veteran actor Robert De Niro, who received a Lifetime Achievement Award, openly criticized the then US president, calling him uncultured.

De Niro’s harsh words further showed how many in the film industry were growing uneasy about the direction of American politics. Ari Aster, the director of Eddington, also spoke about his fears, saying he felt “scared” and that the country seemed to be “living through an experiment that has gone wrong.” Aster’s worries mirrored those of many artists who feared backlash for their political views.

The movie Eddington itself reflected the larger political tensions Pascal was talking about. Set during the COVID-19 pandemic, this neo-Western film follows a small-town mayor (played by Pascal) who runs against a sheriff (Joaquin Phoenix) while tensions rise over mask rules and Black Lives Matter protests. The film’s focus on social division and political conflict gave real-world context to Pascal’s passionate appeal to filmmakers.

Adding to the worries in the film industry was Trump’s announcement of a plan to impose a 100 percent tariff on movies made outside the United States. Many saw this as a move to protect American films, but it also created more uncertainty and raised concerns about the future of international film collaborations.

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