Sundance Stars Protest ICE: ‘Worst of Humanity’ | Movies

(Park City,Utah,January 26,2026) — The Sundance Film Festival in Park City,Utah,was the site of a protest Sunday against recent fatal shootings by law enforcement,drawing participation from prominent figures in the film industry.

A protest at the Sundance Film Festival memorialized Renee good and Alex Pretti, who were killed by federal agents earlier this month, and sparked statements from actors Natalie Portman and Olivia Wilde.

• A protest called “Sundancers Melt ICE†was held at the Sundance Film Festival on Sunday.
• The protest memorialized Renee Good, killed by an ICE agent on January 7, and Alex Pretti, killed by a Department of Homeland Security agent on Saturday.
• Actors Natalie Portman and Olivia wilde publicly condemned the shootings and the actions of ICE.
• elijah Wood was among the protesters, stating the festival was “about bringing people together.â€

The protest, organized under the banner “Sundancers Melt ICE,†called for a 10-minute “respectful†event at sunset on Park City’s Main Street too memorialize Renee Good, who was killed by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent on January 7, and Alex Pretti, who was killed on Saturday by an agent of the Department of Homeland security, according to The Guardian.

Did you know?— ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) is a U.S. federal agency responsible for enforcing immigration laws.It was established in 2003.

footage of the protest posted by Deadline showed participants holding up their lit phones and chanting “love melts ICE†while a small group of law enforcement officials observed. Actor Natasha Lyonne shared information about the protest on social media.

Industry Response

Lord of the Rings actor Elijah Wood was among those who participated in the protest,telling Deadline,“The folks who have been unlawfully gunned down in Minnesota — it’s awful. Here we are at this film festival that is about bringing people together; it’s about telling stories from all over the world. We’re not divided here; we’re coming together.â€

Pro tip— Film festivals frequently enough serve as platforms for social and political statements, leveraging the presence of influential figures to raise awareness.

natalie Portman used her platform at the festival to protest, wearing “ICE out†and “Be good†pins during media appearances. Portman told Deadline, “What’s going on in this country right now is absolutely horrific. What the federal government,Trump’s government,Kristi Noem,ICE — what they’re doing is really the worst of the worst of humanity.â€

Actor and director Olivia Wilde also commented on the shootings, telling Variety, “I’m appalled and sickened. We can’t go another day just sort of accepting this as our new norm. It’s outrageous. People are being murdered … And so if we can do anything out here to support the movement to cast ICE out, to delegitimise this unbelievably criminal organisation, then that’s what we should be doing.â€

Reader question— Why is Sundance a venue for political protest? The festival attracts media attention and provides a visible platform for advocacy.

Why It Matters

The protests at Sundance highlight the growing intersection of the entertainment industry and political activism, particularly regarding immigration policy and concerns over the use of force by federal agencies. The visible support from high-profile actors draws attention to these issues and amplifies calls for accountability and reform.

Time.news based this report in part on reporting by The Guardian, Deadline, and Variety and added autonomous analysis and context.