Elijah Wood Stands With Protesters as Sundance Erupts Over ICE Violence and Fatal Shootings

Published 01/25/2026, 11:09 PM EST

Elijah Jordan Wood built a career that grew quietly then exploded into global recognition through fearless choices and constant reinvention. From gifted child performer to genre-hopping adult actor, he chased curiosity over comfort and depth over spectacle.

He explored animation, television, horror, music, and production, shaping a voice defined by independence and conscience. That long creative journey now meets the street, charged with purpose and urgency, in full public view today, there, where recently he was seen protesting against ICE.

Sundance Film Festival’s glitzy snow-capped screenings froze over when passionate marchers took Main Street to challenge ICE, turning indie frenzy into a fierce public statement.

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

Elijah Wood among festival voices speaking out against ICE at Sundance

At the Sundance Film Festival, a brief yet striking demonstration unfolded outside 577 Main Street in Park City as roughly one hundred people gathered to oppose ongoing ICE raids. The sunset rally, titled Sundancers Melt Ice, lasted just ten minutes and rang with chants centered on compassion.

Actor Elijah Wood was present and spoke to Deadline in Park City, describing the Minnesota incidents involving Alex Pretti and Renee Good as deeply disturbing cases where federal agents unlawfully took their lives.

Elijah Wood further told Deadline that Sundance exists to unite people through stories drawn from across the world, emphasizing togetherness over division. That spirit carried through a weekend where many actors and actresses openly challenged ICE, some wearing ICE out pins at premieres.

Speaking to Deadline at the Sundance studio, Natalie Portman described the current climate in the United States as horrifying, condemning federal leadership and immigration enforcement while highlighting compassion, underscoring how Sundance has long served as a platform for activism and discussion.

Is ‘The Voice of Hind Rajab’ Available on Netflix? Where Can You Stream the 2026 Oscar Favorite Film?

Sundance ignites more than films; it launches careers, sparks movements, and amplifies unheard voices, cementing itself as the most powerful ground where cinema meets change and culture shifts.

More Than Movies: Sundance as a Launchpad for Voices

Sundance Film Festival has long served as a vibrant stage for independent voices and daring storytelling. From launching groundbreaking directors like Quentin Tarantino and Steven Soderbergh to showcasing documentaries that ignite social awareness, the festival amplifies perspectives often ignored by mainstream Hollywood.

Environmental crises, racial inequality, LGBTQ+ rights, and immigration struggles have all found urgent expression on its screens. By providing underrepresented filmmakers a platform to share authentic narratives, Sundance transforms cinema into a powerful catalyst for conversation, reflection, and cultural change.

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

At the Salt Lake City festival, independent films have become catalysts for awareness and change. Longtime Companion humanized the AIDS crisis, breaking stigma and sparking dialogue about LGBTQ+ health and acceptance. Blackfish exposed the suffering of captive orcas, inspiring worldwide outrage and demanding ethical reform.

Sundance Film Festival continues to elevate stories that ignite activism and challenge society, turning cinema into a force for movements that resonate across borders and generations, now with the protest against ICE.

Humboldt Broncos Tragedy: Family Questions Netflix Series’ Depiction of Bus Crash

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

What do you think about Elijah Wood’s participation against ICE protest? Let us know in the comments below.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE :

ADVERTISEMENT

Yusra Miraj Khan

1464 articles

Yusra Miraj Khan is an Entertainment Journalist at Netflix Junkie. Specializing in Taylor Swift and the British Royal Family, she transforms modern mythologies into high-ranking, reader-first narratives. Since joining in early 2025, Khan has penned over 500 articles, known for their sharp decoding of Easter eggs and PR silences.

Edited By: Aliza Siddiqui

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

EDITORS' PICK