NATO held closed-door meetings with filmmakers, drawing propaganda accusations

NATO held closed-door meetings with TV and film writers in Los Angeles, Brussels, and Paris, according to The Guardian, with London next.swedenherald
The alliance said the sessions, held under the Chatham House Rule, have already inspired three projects, but some invitees called the effort “propaganda.”swedenherald
Screenwriter Alan O’Gorman called the initiative “outrageous,” while producer Faisal A. Qureshi warned it creates an illusion of “secret knowledge.”unn

NATO Holds Closed-Door Meetings With Filmmakers, Sparking Propaganda Fears

NATO has been quietly convening screenwriters, directors, and producers behind closed doors in Los Angeles, Brussels, and Paris, with another session planned in London, prompting accusations from some invitees that the military alliance is seeking to enlist the entertainment industry in a propaganda campaign.

The meetings, first reported by The Guardian, are being held under the Chatham House Rule, which allows participants to use information shared but keeps identities confidential. In an email seen by The Guardian, NATO said the sessions have already inspired participants to undertake three different projects.swedenherald

“Tone-Deaf and Crazy”

The initiative has drawn sharp criticism from some of those invited. Irish screenwriter Alan O’Gorman called the effort “outrageous” and “clearly propaganda,” telling The Guardian, “I thought it was tone-deaf and crazy to present this as some kind of positive opportunity”. Faisal A. Qureshi, a screenwriter and producer known for his work on “Four Lions” and “Leaving Neverland”, warned that the meetings risk giving participants an illusion of “secret knowledge” that could distort how they process information. “They have simply been given something that has the appearance of truth, provided by an authority that rarely deals with the public, and there is a sense of privilege regarding obtaining such access,” Qureshi said.unn

The upcoming London meeting is set to involve members of the Writers’ Guild of Great Britain and will focus on “the changing security situation in Europe”.swedenherald

A Pattern of Outreach

The initiative is not NATO’s first foray into Hollywood. In 2024, the Center for Strategic and International Studies led a delegation of eight Hollywood screenwriters on a study trip to NATO headquarters ahead of the Washington Summit. That trip, which included writers from “Friends” and “Law and Order,” gave participants access to senior NATO and U.S. government officials, Ukrainian soldiers, and military exercises. Participants described the experience as “overwhelming” and spoke of NATO’s mission in deeply personal terms.csis

Transparency Concerns

Critics say the Chatham House Rule format raises questions about transparency and the potential militarization of entertainment content. Some invitees expressed concern that they were being recruited to embed alliance-friendly messaging into film and television without audiences being aware of the influence. NATO has not publicly addressed the criticism, though the alliance’s email suggested the meetings were informational rather than directive in nature.almayadeen

The revelations come at a fraught moment for the alliance, which is navigating internal tensions over burden-sharing and has been considering scaling back its annual summits amid strained relations with the Trump administration.japantimes