#berlinale

#berlinale

Following a letter signed by 81 world-renowned film figures expressing their dismay at the festival's refusal to condemn the genocide in Gaza and at the clear signals artists in Germany receive not to speak about the issue Tuttle gave an interview to Screen International in which she defended herself, arguing the festival recognizes the depth of anger and frustration about the suffering of people in Gaza.

Gomis told DW the film includes a tribute to his late father. Part of the production was filmed in the village where his father was born, in the Cacheu region of Guinea-Bissau. "The grave you see in the film, the one the two characters speak to and touch that is my father's grave. The photograph of that man in the film that is my father," he said.

Accepting the Most Valuable Film prize at the Cinema for Peace Awards for her project The Voice of Hind Rajab, Ben Hania stated that the killing of the five-year-old Palestinian girl by the Israeli army was not an exception, but part of a systematic genocide. Peace is not a perfume sprayed over violence so power can feel refined, and can feel comfortable, Ben Hania told the audience. If we speak about peace, we must speak about justice. Justice means accountability.

The signatories include many artists who have presented work at the Berlin Film Festival. Swinton was herself last year awarded its prestigious Honorary Golden Bear award. They said they "fervently disagree" with Wenders's comments, arguing that filmmaking and politics cannot be separated. "Just as the festival has made clear statements in the past about atrocities carried out against people in Iran and Ukraine, we call on the Berlinale to fulfil its moral duty and clearly state its opposition to Israel's genocide," the letter adds.

More than 80 actors, directors and writers who are current or former participants in Germany's Berlin International Film Festival have signed an open letter condemning the organization's "institutional silence" and "censoring" over the war in Gaza. The open letter, first published by leading US entertainment trade magazine and website Variety, was signed by the likes of British actress Tilda Swinton, Spanish actor Javier Bardem, Brazilian director Fernando Meirelles and British filmmaker Mike Leigh.

The conference brought together festival director Tricia Tuttle and the seven people who will be selecting the winners of the Golden and Silver Bears: Jury president Wim Wenders, director of acclaimed films including "Wings of Desire" and the Oscar-nominated "Perfect Days," and his fellow jurors Nepalese director Min Bahadur; South Korean actor Bae Doona; Indian director, producer and archivist Shivendra Singh Dungarpur; US director, screenwriter and producer Reinaldo Marcus Green; Japanese director, screenwriter and producer HIKARI and Polish producer Ewa Puszczynska.

The conference brought together festival director Tricia Tuttle and the seven people who will be selecting the winners of the Golden and Silver Bears: Jury president Wim Wenders, director of acclaimed films including "Wings of Desire" and the Oscar-nominated "Perfect Days," and his fellow jurors Nepalese director Min Bahadur; South Korean actor Bae Doona; Indian director, producer and archivist Shivendra Singh Dungarpur; US director, screenwriter and producer Reinaldo Marcus Green; Japanese director, screenwriter and producer HIKARI and Polish producer Ewa Puszczynska.

German Culture Minister Wolfram Weimer said the 76th edition of the festival would be a testament to the fact that "screenplays, cameras and screens are not mere artistic tools, but weapons in the fight for freedom and human dignity". "We must not allow the despots in Tehran or Caracas to win," he said in a statement. Berlin is the first major international festival in the world's film calendar and has a reputation for topical and progressive programming.