Norman Briski (born Naum Isaías Briski) is a household-name Argentine Jewish actor, director, and playwright. A legend of Argentine culture, he is renowned for his avant-garde artistic style and staunch left-wing political convictions.
Briski’s career spans over sixty years, with roles in classics such as Argentina, 1985. Having lived in exile for political reasons, he returned to lead independent theater movements and founded the Teatro Octubre. He is regarded as a moral compass for Argentine theater and cinema, consistently using art to challenge social injustice.
During the Martín Fierro Film Awards in October 2024, Briski delivered a powerful speech while accepting a lifetime achievement award. He declared: “Gaza, Gaza, Gaza, Gaza will never be defeated! I don’t care if you applaud me or not, but I feel this in my blood, in my ancestors—my solidarity with a people who are being murdered.”
Addressing the subsequent backlash, he added: “When a true Jew defends humanity and is accused of ‘antisemitism,’ it is a tragic manipulation. Today, we must be Palestinians, just as we must stand with any struggle against oppression and for liberation.”