Berlin Film Festival Faces Backlash Over Gaza Silence as Stars Sign Protest Letter
The Berlin Film Festival has become embroiled in significant controversy after jury president Wim Wenders declared that filmmakers "have to stay out of politics." This statement has prompted a strong response from 81 prominent artists, including Javier Bardem, Tilda Swinton, and Brian Cox, who have signed an open letter expressing dismay at the festival's perceived silence on the situation in Gaza.
Celebrity-Led Letter Condemns Institutional Silence
In the open letter, published in full by Variety, the signatories question the "institutional silence on the genocide of Palestinians" and call for the Berlinale to take a clear stance on Israel's war in Gaza. The artists state they are "dismayed at the Berlinale's involvement in censoring artists who oppose Israel's ongoing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza and the German state's key role in enabling it."
The letter accuses the festival of "policing filmmakers" and describes instances where filmmakers who spoke about Palestinians reported being "aggressively reprimanded by senior festival programmers." It concludes with a call for the festival to "fulfil its moral duty and clearly state its opposition to Israel's genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes against Palestinians."
Wim Wenders' Controversial Statement Sparks Immediate Backlash
The controversy stems from a press conference where the jury was asked about their views on the German government's "support of the genocide in Gaza" and the festival's "selective treatment of human rights" issues. Wenders responded by saying, "We are the counterweight of politics, we are the opposite of politics. We have to do the work of people, not the work of politicians."
Backlash to his statement was immediate. Booker Prize winner Arundhati Roy, who was scheduled to attend a screening of a restored version of her 1989 film, withdrew from the festival, stating she was "shocked and disgusted" at the remarks. Many on social media have quoted from Wenders' 1991 book, The Logic of Images, where he wrote: "Every film is political. Most political of all are those that pretend not to be: 'entertainment' movies."
Signatories Include High-Profile Film and Television Stars
Among the 81 artists who signed the letter are:
- Adam McKay, director of Don't Look Up
- Adèle Haenel, star of Portrait of a Lady on Fire
- Carice Van Houten and Tobias Menzies from Game of Thrones
- Photographer Nan Goldin
- Tatiana Maslany, star of She Hulk
The signatories have written that they "fervently disagree" with Wenders' statement, arguing that cinema and politics cannot be separated. They also highlight Germany's support of Israel, noting that "despite abundant evidence of Israel's genocidal intent, systematic atrocity crimes and ethnic cleansing, Germany continues to supply Israel with weapons used to exterminate Palestinians in Gaza."
Festival Defends Wenders as Internal Divisions Emerge
Festival head Tricia Tuttle defended Wenders' statement on Saturday, saying: "Artists should not be expected to comment on all broader debates about a festival's previous or current practices over which they have no control." However, internal divisions have surfaced. At the same press conference, jury member and Polish producer Ewa Puszczyńska described the reporter's question to Wenders as "unfair," arguing that the jury cannot be responsible for decisions on supporting Israel or Palestine.
The letter points out that the festival has "made clear statements in the past about atrocities carried out against people in Iran and Ukraine," but has yet to "issue a statement that affirms the Palestinian right to life, dignity, and freedom" and "condemns the ongoing Israeli genocide of Palestinians." This reference to a September 2025 United Nations investigation, which found that Israel committed genocide in Gaza, underscores the artists' demands for accountability.
Israel's war on Gaza, which began after a Hamas attack in October 2023 killed about 1,200 people in southern Israel, has resulted in over 71,000 Palestinian deaths, widespread destruction, and the displacement of most of Gaza's 2.1 million residents. The Berlinale's handling of this issue continues to dominate discussions at the 2026 festival, highlighting the ongoing tension between art and political engagement in the global film community.
