Demi Moore did not waste time playing it safe once politics entered the conversation at the Cannes Film Festival. The Oscar-nominated actress spoke candidly about free speech, censorship, and the growing role of AI in Hollywood while appearing alongside this year’s Cannes jury members on Tuesday (May 12).
Moore, who joined the prestigious jury for the 2026 festival, made it clear she believes artists should never feel pressured to stay silent about political issues.
Demi Moore discusses importance of free speech at the Cannes Film Festival
“I would hope not,” Demi Moore said when asked whether public political statements could negatively impact films being discussed at Cannes. “I think part of art is about expression, so if we start censoring ourselves then I think we shut down the very core of our creativity.”
Furthermore, the actress added that creativity often becomes the space where people discover “truth and answers,” especially during politically tense moments.
Moore’s comments arrived shortly after filmmaker Pedro Almodóvar made headlines for criticizing the current political climate in the United States. The director recently told the Los Angeles Times he no longer believed America functioned as a true democracy.
While Moore avoided diving directly into partisan politics herself, she appeared firm in her belief that artists should be free to express personal views without fear of backlash.
The conversation later shifted toward artificial intelligence and the entertainment industry. Moore admitted Hollywood may not fully understand how to protect itself from the technology’s rapid growth, though she stopped short of condemning AI entirely.
“AI is here,” she said. “To fight it is, in a sense, to fight something that is a battle we will lose. Still, the actress argued that technology could never replace the emotional core of filmmaking or performance. According to Moore, real art comes from “the soul” and “the spirit” of the people creating it.
Elsewhere during the press conference, Moore spoke warmly about returning to Cannes after previously attending the festival with The Substance in 2024. She admitted she was initially surprised to receive the jury invitation.
“My first thought was, ‘Me?’” Moore said with a laugh. “I feel tremendously honored and super excited.”
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