Demi Moore and Cannes jury speak out against censorship in film

Cannes jury members defend political expression in cinema as free speech and AI concerns dominate talks

Members of the Cannes Film Festival Competition jury addressed politics, censorship and artificial intelligence during the festival’s opening press conference on Tuesday.

Jury president Park Chan-wook said politics and art should not be separated, arguing that films with political themes should not be dismissed as anti-art. He added that political storytelling still requires artistic quality to avoid becoming propaganda.

Actress Demi Moore also defended creative freedom during the discussion, warning against self-censorship in the film industry. Moore said limiting artistic expression could damage creativity and prevent filmmakers from exploring important truths and ideas through cinema.

The press conference at the Cannes Film Festival included multiple political discussions, including comments on Gaza from British screenwriter Paul Laverty. Laverty criticised what he described as the blacklisting of actors who publicly supported Palestinians, while also praising performers including Susan Sarandon and Javier Bardem for speaking openly.

Chilean filmmaker Diego Céspedes also spoke about diversity in cinema, expressing hope that filmmaking opportunities become more accessible beyond wealthy communities and major film industries.

Away from politics, Moore addressed the growing influence of artificial intelligence in filmmaking, stating that AI is unavoidable and that the industry should focus on learning how to work alongside emerging technology rather than attempting to stop it entirely.

The 2026 Cannes Competition jury also includes Chloé Zhao, Ruth Negga and Stellan Skarsgård.