A host of film directors and stars, including Susan Sarandon, Paul Mescal and Olivia Colman, have added their names to those offering time and memorabilia to a Cinema for Gaza auction that is raising funds for humanitarian relief in Palestine.
Joining the celebrities is the former Labour party leader Jeremy Corbyn – billed as the star of Sumotherhood, thanks to his cameo in last year’s Adam Deacon urban thriller – who is donating a Zoom poetry reading and a selection of homemade jam.
The auction, which was announced late last month with lots including a Zoom bedtime story from Tilda Swinton and a porridge tutorial with Josh O’Connor, has been set up by a collective of UK-based film-makers and authors. So far, more than £100,000 has been raised.
The highest bid to date is nearly £8,000 for a handwritten copy of the lyrics to Sweet Dreams by Annie Lennox and Dave Stewart.
Colman is offering a personalised video message, while Thor star Tessa Thompson suggests a virtual beer. The broadcaster Louis Theroux suggests the chance to be grilled by him over video, while Juliet Stevenson and Andrea Riseborough are on hand for video chats.
Susan Sarandon pitches in with signed Rocky Horror artwork and Harry Potter’s Bonnie Wright offers a video chat and a gift hamper from her sustainability company.
The Zone of Interest director Jonathan Glazer has donated a poster of his Oscar-winning film signed by himself, producer James Wilson and composer Mica Levi, as well as a signed Under the Skin screenplay, artwork and a director’s statement.
Meanwhile, an Aftersun poster signed by star Paul Mescal is up for grabs, along with a framed Malcolm X poster signed by Spike Lee and a Mamma Mia! gold record signed by actor Stellan Skarsgård. Lord of the Rings star Augustus Prew has donated “one of a kind” elf ears.
Film-makers Andrew Haigh and Asif Kapadia provide a bundle of signed DVDs, including the forthcoming DVD of All of Us Strangers, while Heartstopper star Kit Connor has lobbed in a signed rugby ball.
The Bear star Ayo Edebiri has compiled a Google map of her favourite restaurants and wants to then rave about them on Zoom, while actor-director Rebecca Hall is keen to read your children a bedtime story.
Journalist and film-maker Jon Ronson has provided tickets to his new show, and you can Zoom with the Black Mirror team, including Charlie Brooker. A poster for Supernova signed by Colin Firth and Stanley Tucci is also up for grabs.
Room and Normal People director Lenny Abrahamson offers a video chat, or a coffee if you happen to be in Dublin, while Closer and Girl director Lukas Dhont is up for supper in Ghent. Directors Shane Meadows and Yann Demange are offering substantial mentorship video sessions.
Standup and presenter Nish Kumar promises to help you “land the perfect punchline” with a Zoom comedy session and there’s also a signed poster of the acclaimed Norwegian comedy The Worst Person in the World among the lots.
The Cinema for Gaza auction closes at 23:59 British Summer Time on 12 April.
