semi-swamp Once politics entered the conversation, no time was wasted in playing it safe. Cannes Film Festival. The Oscar-nominated actress appeared alongside this year’s Cannes jurors on Tuesday (May 12) to speak candidly about free speech, censorship, and the growing role of AI in Hollywood.
Moore, who joined the prestigious jury for the 2026 festival, explained that she believes artists should never feel pressure to remain silent on political issues.
Demi Moore discusses the importance of freedom of expression at Cannes Film Festival
When Demi Moore was asked whether public political statements could have a negative impact on the films being discussed at Cannes, she said, “I would hope not.” “I think part of art is about expression, so if we start censoring ourselves I think we shut down the very core of our creativity.”
Furthermore, the actress said that creativity often becomes the place where people search for “truth and answers”, especially during politically tense moments.
Moore’s comments come shortly after filmmaker Pedro Almodovar made headlines for criticizing the current political climate in the United States. The director recently told the Los Angeles Times that he no longer believes America functions as a true democracy.
While Moore herself avoided wading directly into partisan politics, she appeared firm in her belief that artists should be free to express personal views without fear of backlash.
The conversation later turned to artificial intelligence and the entertainment industry. Moore acknowledged that Hollywood doesn’t fully understand how to protect itself from the rapid growth of technology, though he stopped short of condemning AI entirely.
“AI is here,” she said. “Fighting it is, in a way, fighting a battle that we will lose. Still, the actress argued that technology can never replace the emotional core of filmmaking or performance. According to Moore, real art comes from the “soul” and “spirit” of the people who make it.
Elsewhere during the press conference, Moore spoke warmly about returning to Cannes after attending the festival in 2024 with The Substance. She admitted that she was initially surprised upon receiving the jury invitation.
“My first thought was, ‘Me?'” Moore said, laughing. “I feel extremely honored and extremely excited.”
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