Arundhati Roy ‘shocked’ by jury’s Gaza remarks, quits Berlin film festival | Israel-Palestine conflict News
Berlin International Film Festival Faces Controversy Over Political Remarks
Indian author Arundhati Roy has announced her withdrawal from the Berlin International Film Festival in response to what she termed “unconscionable statements” made by jury members regarding the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
In an article for India’s The Wire, Roy criticized comments from members of the Berlinale jury, particularly its chair, acclaimed director Wim Wenders, who stated that “art should not be political.” Roy described this position as “jaw-dropping,” arguing it silences necessary discussions about ongoing atrocities.
“It is a way of shutting down a conversation about a crime against humanity even as it unfolds before us in real time,” wrote Roy, best known for her novel “The God of Small Things.” She expressed being “shocked and disgusted,” asserting that artists, writers, and filmmakers have a responsibility to take action against the war in Gaza.
“Let me say this clearly: what has happened in Gaza, what continues to happen, is a genocide of the Palestinian people by the State of Israel,” she emphasized. Roy claimed that the conflict is supported and funded by the governments of the United States and Germany, among others, rendering them complicit.
During a panel discussion at the festival’s launch on Thursday, Wenders responded to inquiries about the German government’s backing of Israel amid allegations of human rights abuses. He maintained that filmmakers should “stay out of politics,” asserting, “We are the counterweight to politics.”
Polish film producer Ewa Puszczynska, another jury member, also addressed the question, stating that it was “unfair” to hold filmmakers accountable for governmental support of any side in the conflict. “There are many other wars where genocide is committed and we do not talk about that,” Puszczynska added.
Roy was scheduled to participate in the festival, running from February 12 to 22, with a screening of her 1989 film, “In Which Annie Gives It Those Ones,” in the Classics section.
The German government has come under scrutiny for its substantial arms exports to Israel, second only to the United States. Additionally, reports indicate that it has implemented restrictive measures limiting expressions of solidarity with Palestinians. In 2024, over 500 artists and cultural workers issued a call to boycott German-funded cultural institutions, criticizing what they deemed “McCarthyist policies” that suppress freedoms of expression related to Palestine.
Organizers of this initiative noted concerns that cultural institutions are actively monitoring social media and public statements for signs of dissent against Germany’s stance on the Israel-Palestine conflict.
