The inimitable Tilda Swinton used her platform in Berlin Thursday night, where she received a Golden Bear for lifetime achievement, to call out political extremism, environmental degradation and the rise of authoritarianism around the world.

Without ever uttering the words Gaza or Palestinian, the Oscar-winning Scottish star also gave an impassioned speech in support of the great independent state of cinema, what she called an unlimited realm, innately inclusive, immune to efforts of occupation, colonization, takeover, ownership or the development of Riviera property. (The latter a clear reference to U.S. President Donald Trumps proposed plans for Gaza). Swinton called out what she termed 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, lets name it. The inhumane is being perpetrated on our watch. Im 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.

It was a powerful and stirring oration, given a warm and personal touch by Swintons close connection to Berlin and its film festival. The actress has been a Berlinale regular for decades, starting back in 1986 with Derek Jarmans Caravaggio, which won the Silver Bear. Over 26 of her films have screened in various sections of the festival over the years, including Wes AndersonsGrand Budapest Hotel, which opened the 2014 festival and 2016 Berlinale openerHail, Cesar!from the Coen brothers. She served aspresident of the Berlin competition jury in 2009.

Heres one of the best things that can happen to young person curious about the world and how to live a life in it, she said to the festival crowd. They can find themselves here at the Berlinale. When I first came to this festival, I was 25 and looking for my life, looking for the world and signs of human life there, how I might take my place among it, on the hunt for amazement, for solidarity and connection, and I can say I found it all right here in one fell swoop.

Swinton won a best supporting actress Oscar in 2008 for her performance in Tony Gilroys Michael Clayton. More recently, Swinton has been enjoying critical acclaim for her turn inPedro AlmodvarsThe Room Next Door(2024), the Spanish directors English-language feature debut, in which she stars alongside Julianne Moore.

While shes reached a wider audience with her supporting roles in blockbusters such as Doctor Strange and Avengers: Endgame, Swintons heart has always been with indie cinema, in roles from arthouse auteurs such as as Luca Guadagnino (I Am Love, Susperia) Joanna Hogg (The Souvenir, The Souvenir: Part 2), and Bong Joon-ho (Snowpiercer, Okja).

Youve worked with so many great heroes of ours: Johanna Hogg, Derek Jarman, Jim Jarmusch, director Bong [Joon Ho], the Cohens, Wes Anderson, Almodovar, Lynn Ramsay, said German director Edward Berger (Conclave, All Quiet on the Western Front) who presented Swinton with the honor. Tilda Swinton is so good that many directors cast her twice.

Swinton stars alongside Colin Farrell in Bergers upcoming film for Netflix, The Ballad Of A Small Player. Berger noted a colleague referred to Swinton as a being from a far superior planet. And no, dear Tilda, he did not mean Scotland.

Concluding her speech, Tilda Swinton thanked the Berlinale for laying out my lifes magic box of faith; for all the friends I found here; for 40 years of parties and revelations, and for my beautiful, shiny bear. Long live cinema and all its never-ending promise, a light in the dark that never goes out, lets keep looking up!