Berlinale: Dozens accuse film festival of 'silence' on Gaza

More than 80 current and former participants in Germany's Berlinale film festival signed an open letter accusing it of silence over Gaza. The festival's director previously defended filmmakers who chose not to comment.

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.

It comes in response to comments made by the head of the festival's jury, German filmmaker Wim Wenders, who last week responded to a journalist's question about the lack of a public statement on Gaza by stating that "We should stay out of politics."

Award-winning Indian author and filmmaker Arundhati Roy pulled out of this year's Berlinale in response to Wenders' comments.

"We 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 statement joint statement reads.

Numerous international rights organizations and a UN commission of inquiry have found Israel's war in Gaza, launched in response to Hamas-led attacks on October 7, 2023, to be a genocide. The International Court of Justice is also hearing a case brought by South Africa accusing Israel of violating the 1948 Genocide Convention in Gaza.

Israel has repeatedly denied the accusations of genocide.

Open letter calls on Berlinale to speak out on Gaza

The actors and filmmakers who signed the open letter argue that there is a wider culture in Germany that has stifled speech in favor of Palestinians' rights.

"We fervently disagree with the statement made by Berlinale 2026 jury president Wim Wenders that filmmaking is 'the opposite of politics'," the open letter reads. "You cannot separate one from the other."

"We are deeply concerned that the German state-funded Berlinale is helping put into practice what Irene Khan, the UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression and Opinion, recently condemned as Germany's misuse of draconian legislation 'to restrict advocacy for Palestinian rights, chilling public participation and shrinking discourse in academia and the arts'."

The letter points out that the Berlinale has in the past made "clear statements" about the "atrocities" carried out against civilians in Ukraine and Iran.

"We call on the Berlinale to fulfill its moral duty and clearly state its opposition to Israel's genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes against Palestinians, and completely end its involvement in shielding Israel from criticism and calls for accountability," it reads.

Berlinale defends Wenders' comments

The head of the Berlinale, Tricia Tuttle, earlier responded to the controversy around Wenders' comments by saying that "filmmakers are expected to answer any question put to them."

"Artists are free to exercise their right of free speech in whatever way they choose," she said in a statement.

"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. Nor should they be expected to speak on every political issue raised to them unless they want to."

DW has contacted the Berlinale for comment on Tuesday's open letter.

Edited by: Louis Oelofse