Hollywood star Olivia Wilde warns social media and the embrace of fame pose an existential threat to filmmaking as a storytelling art.

“Directors have to decide at a certain point do you want to be a celebrity or an artist. Because of social media, it’s becoming even more combined to something that is quite dangerous for the art form.,” Wilde said while taking part in an informal conversation at the Red Sea Film Festival on Saturday.

“When you conflate filmmaking or acting with large scale acceptance, you immediately cut off every opportunity to do any risky work. So it was important to me to never become overly focused on being accepted or loved,” she added.

To get away from the Hollywood bubble, the actor-turned-director told the Red Sea Film event she remains inspired by film from far-flung countries not dominated by social media and clichés. “I’m so interested...