"The controversy erupted at the beginning of the festival when jury president Wim Wenders answered a question about the German government's support for Israel by saying: "We cannot really enter the field of politics." At the same press conference he had earlier said that films had the power to "change the world" but in a different way from party politics."
"On Tuesday, a letter signed by dozens of film industry figures, including Javier Bardem, Tilda Swinton and Adam McKay, condemned the Berlin festival's "silence on the genocide of Palestinians". Films overshadowed The letter, drafted by the Film Workers for Palestine collective, accused the Berlinale of being involved in "censoring artists who oppose Israel's ongoing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza and the German state's key role in enabling it"."
"Award-winning Indian novelist Arundhati Roy, who had been due to present a restored version of a 1989 film she wrote, pulled out of the event, branding Wender's words "unconscionable" and "jaw-dropping". Director Tricia Tuttle, in her second year at the helm of the Berlinale, has firmly rejected the accusations, describing some of the claims in the letter as "misinformation" and "inaccurate". She called for "cool heads in hot times" and expressed fears that the controversy was crowding out conversation about the films."
The 76th Berlin Film Festival concluded after ten days during which competition films were frequently overshadowed by debate over politics in filmmaking. Jury president Wim Wenders said films can change how people live but that juries "cannot really enter the field of politics", prompting widespread outrage. Novelist Arundhati Roy withdrew, calling his words "unconscionable" and "jaw-dropping". A letter from Film Workers for Palestine, signed by dozens of industry figures, accused the festival of silence on Palestinian genocide and censoring artists who oppose Israel. Director Tricia Tuttle rejected those claims as misinformation, urged "cool heads in hot times", and worried the controversy was crowding out film conversation. "We Are All Strangers" by Anthony Chen was a standout entry.
Read at The Local Germany
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