Director Wes Anderson has taken aim at US President Donald Trump’s plan to impose severe tariffs on foreign-made films, saying it would mainly affect film-makers like himself financially. At a press conference in Cannes, Anderson expressed his skepticism about the proposal, stating that holding up a movie in customs is unrealistic and unlikely to be implemented.
Trump announced the 100% tariff on foreign-made movies last month, claiming the US film industry is dying due to American filmmakers shooting abroad for cheaper production costs and tax incentives. However, major studios, film unions, and even Trump’s Hollywood ambassadors have called for reviving the industry with similar incentives.
Anderson spoke about his new film The Phoenician Scheme, which was shot mostly in Germany, and how he believes Trump’s plan would harm creators like himself. “I feel that means Trump is saying he’s going to take all the money,” Anderson said, adding that it raises questions about what filmmakers get from such a policy.
In contrast, Anderson is working on a script for a future film with British actor Richard Ayoade and has expressed interest in making a sequel to his 2004 film The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/film/2025/may/19/wes-anderson-mocks-donald-trump-tariff-cannes