Park City, January 23 (RHC)-- In Park City, Utah, filmmakers and community members have organized vigils and protests to coincide with the Sundance Film Festival, which is celebrating its 40th edition this year.    An international coalition of filmmakers organized under the banner Film Workers for Palestine is calling for a Gaza ceasefire, an end to Israel’s occupation of Palestine, and an end to U.S. military support for Israel. 

Over 700 film workers have signed on to the group’s mission, including American actor Susan Sarandon; British directors Mike Leigh and Ken Loach; Palestinian American filmmaker Cherien Dabis, who was Emmy-nominated for directing “Only Murders in the Building”; Indian American filmmaker Mira Nair; and Finnish director Aki Kaurismäki. 

Roughly 200 people rallied on Park City’s busy Main Street on Sunday, shutting down traffic, demanding a ceasefire.  Meanwhile, the group reports Sundance officials have been directing filmmakers not to publicly raise the topic of Palestine.