The daily reminders of the growing violence in the United States are becoming increasingly harder to ignore, so much so that even peaceful (yet passionate) protest erupted on the streets in Park City, Utah on Main Street during the fourth day of this year’s annual Sundance Film Festival. The group of activists chanted “Sundancers melt ice! Love melts ice!” around festival attendees, then ended about 10 minutes after it began.
Acclaimed actor, Elijah Wood was in attendance to debut & promote A Road Map to Happiness and spoke to Deadline after participating in the protest:
“The folks who have been unlawfully gunned down in Minnesota — it’s awful,” Wood told Deadline tonight. “Here we are at this film festival that is about bringing people together; it’s about telling stories from all over the world. We’re not divided here; we’re coming together,” he continued.
Oscar-winning actress, Natalie Portman also shared her thoughts on the situation in their Sundance Studio:
”What’s going on in this country right now is absolutely horrific. What the federal government, Trump’s government, Kristi Noem, ICE — what they’re doing is really the worst of the worst of humanity. And then we have the best of humanity for the way people are showing up for each other.”
Portman also spoke to Variety in their designated studio:
“This is such a joyful community celebrating film here and we’re so excited to be showing ‘The Gallerist,’ but we’re also at a moment in our country’s history that is quite devastating,” Portman said. “It’s really impossible not to talk about what is happening right now and the brutality of ICE and how it has to stop immediately. But also, there’s a beautiful community that Americans are showing right now. They’re showing up for each other, protecting each other and fighting for their freedom. It’s a bittersweet moment to celebrate something we’re so proud of on the backdrop of our nation in pain.”
While promoting The Invite, Olivia Wilde talked about her feelings of disgust with current events on camera:
Committee member, Zoey Deutch spoke with Jane Fonda’s nonprofit organization, Committee for the First Amendment while promoting her latest project at Sundance, Gail Daughtry and the Celebrity Sex Pass:
It was a weekend of multiple voices not hesitating to share their sentiments of disappointment and concern regarding the recent killings of protestors by federal agents. From movielovers to industry professionals, to activists – all voices merging as one in solidarity of the shared belief of the urgency to preserve human rights due to disturbing events, including one that occurred at the festival where an elected official was punched by an unknown person.
More celebrities have stepped forward to share their thoughts on the red carpet at the prestigious film festival, as well as on their personal social media profiles or to other external sources. It seems that people are feeling more compelled to speak against the events occurring throughout the country. Sundance was not the only place where reactions were expressed, see below for more reactions from prominent voices in the film industry.
Jamie Lee Curtis:
Glenn Close:
Elizabeth Banks:
Mark Ruffalo:
www.instagram.com/reel/DT6KrVB…
Cold blooded murder in the streets of the USA by an occupying military gang, creating havoc. We have fought wars in other countries for less than this.
— Mark Ruffalo (@markruffalo.bsky.social) January 24, 2026 at 4:09 PM
Pedro Pascal:
John Leguizamo:
Janelle Monae:
Shared the following above in an Instagram story.
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