Jonathan Glazer is a famous British film director and screenwriter. Born in London to a traditional Jewish family, he studied theater design at Nottingham Trent University before directing music videos, commercial advertisements, and feature films.
Glazer’s filmography includes the crime film “Sexy Beast” (2000), the psychological drama “Birth” (2004), and the science fiction film “Under the Skin” (2013). In 2023, he wrote and directed “The Zone of Interest,” an adaptation of Martin Amis’s novel set at the Auschwitz concentration camp. The film earned five Academy Award nominations, winning the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film at the 96th Academy Awards.
During his Oscar acceptance speech in March 2024, Glazer addressed the ongoing conflict in Gaza, stating: “Right now we stand here as men who refute their Jewishness and the Holocaust being hijacked by an occupation, which has led to conflict for so many innocent people. Whether the victims of October the 7th in Israel or the ongoing attack on Gaza, all the victims of this dehumanization, how do we resist?“ The bold speech generated significant public controversy within the film industry, resulting in opposing open letters from industry professionals either criticizing his statement or defending his right to critique state policy.
Glazer is one of the signatories of the 2025 public statement, “Global Jewish Call on the UN and World Leaders to Sanction Israel,” which called for international sanctions, arms embargoes, and legal measures to enforce international law in the Occupied Territories.