Pedro Almodóvar

At Cannes in May 2026, Almodóvar stated that artists had a duty to speak out and called on Europeans to form a shield against leaders he described as 'monsters', naming Donald Trump, Benjamin Netanyahu and Vladimir Putin.

State of the evidence

Direct statements documented

Attribution

Directly implicated

While presenting La habitación de al lado, Almodóvar made euthanasia a major political issue, stating that the right to die with dignity urgently needed to be recognised everywhere and calling on religions not to intervene in individual decisions. His remarks contributed to the debate on assisted dying and the limits of personal autonomy.

State of the evidence

Repeated public statements documented

Attribution

Directly implicated

The Panama Papers revealed that Pedro and Agustín Almodóvar had acted as authorised representatives of Glen Valley Corporation, a company registered in the British Virgin Islands between 1991 and 1994. The disclosure prompted the director to cancel part of the promotional campaign for Julieta.

State of the evidence

Roles as authorised representatives of an offshore company documented; tax irregularity not established

Legal status — source text

No conviction linked to the company identified

Attribution

Direct involvement as an authorised representative alongside his brother

Almodóvar was among a group of Spanish film industry figures who signed a letter accusing Israel of 'genocide' and calling on the European Union to condemn the bombing of Palestinian civilians. The letter triggered a strong international reaction and allegations that it fuelled antisemitism.

State of the evidence

Signature of the public letter documented

While promoting La mala educación, Almodóvar repeated a rumour circulating after the 11-M attacks that the PP had attempted to postpone the elections, described as an attempted power grab. The PP announced and subsequently filed a criminal complaint for insult and false accusations.

State of the evidence

Statement, apology and filing of complaint documented

Legal status — source text

Criminal complaint filed by the PP; final judicial outcome not located in the sources examined

During the Iraq War, Almodóvar accused José María Aznar of failing to listen to public opinion, described government policy as anti-democratic brutality and stated that the war should politically cost the president and his party their 'heads'.

State of the evidence

Direct statements documented

Attribution

Directly implicated

Almodóvar reacted very strongly to liberalisation proposals and statements by Secretary of State for Culture Miguel Ángel Cortés, whom he described as an 'executioner' of Spanish cinema, calling for his departure and accusing the PP of seeking to dismantle protections for the industry.

State of the evidence

Public statements documented

Attribution

Directly implicated