New film celebrities have joined the Cinema for Gaza auction that is raising funds for the charity Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP).
The latest auction lots include a signed and framed Malcolm X poster offered by Spike Lee and Paul Mescal donating a signed Aftersun poster. On the experiences side, actress Tessa Thompson is offering to have a beer (or an “O’Douls”) over Zoom with a winning bidder, and Shiva Baby director Emma Seligman will shoot the breeze over tea, again via a Zoom call.
There’s also a Zoom call with Ayo Edebiri, star of The Bear, who is tossing in a list of her favorite places to dine, and a walk-on part in director Gurinder Chadha’s next film.
The biggest memorabilia lot so far is Annie Lennox donating handwritten lyrics to “Sweet Dreams,” her 1983 popular song with Eurythmics, with bids currently standing at £7700.00 (U.S. $9,720.75)
The Gaza auction got an early boost when The Zone of Interest filmmaker Jonathan Glazer offered to donate seven signed posters for his Oscar-winning movie, as well as a selection of posters for his 2014 film Under the Skin, to raise funds for the MAP charity. The posters will be signed by Glazer, composer Mica Levi and Wilson.
Glazer had otherwise kept a low profile since his controversial 2024 Oscars acceptance speech, which has galvanized Hollywood by drawing praise from those urging a ceasefire amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas war and sharp criticism from pro-Israel and Jewish leaders in Hollywood.
Other U.K. entertainment personalities have also offered up items or one-off experiences for the Cinema for Gaza auction. These include a ticket to a Ramy Youssef live show and a meet-and-greet afterwards, an original Abigail’s Party poster signed by Mike Leigh, a poster and script book for The Old Oak signed by Ken Loach, and bedtime readings by Tilda Swinton and Rebecca Hall.
Other donations have also come from Peter Capaldi, Imelda Staunton, Brian Cox, Joseph Quinn, Misan Harriman, Joanna Hogg, Aimee Lou Wood and Josh O’Connor. To date, the Cinema for Gaza auction has raised £91,076 ($114,914.00)