Arundhati Roy withdraws from Berlin film festival over jury remarks on Gaza

New Delhi: Indian author Arundhati Roy has announced her withdrawal from the Berlin International Film Festival, citing “unforgivable statements” made by jury members regarding Gaza.

Writing for The Wire, Roy expressed shock at comments made by the jury—including chairman and acclaimed director Wim Wenders—that “art should not be political.” She described this as a method to silence discussions on crimes against humanity, which she said are happening before our eyes.

Roy emphasized that what is occurring in Gaza constitutes a genocide against the Palestinian people by the Israeli state, supported and funded by several Western nations, including the United States and Germany, implicating these countries in the crime. She called on artists, writers, and filmmakers to use their platforms to oppose the war.

The controversy arose during the festival’s opening panel when a journalist questioned the jury about Germany’s support for Gaza and selective application of human rights. Wenders responded that filmmakers should remain apolitical, warning that fully political films would cross into politics, which he and the jury sought to avoid.

Polish jury member and producer Ewa Puszczyńska added that it was somewhat unfair to expect filmmakers to take responsibility for government policies, noting that other genocides worldwide do not receive similar attention.

Roy had been invited to the festival, running February 12–22, for the screening of her 1989 film In Which Annie Gives It Those Ones in the classics section.

She also highlighted concerns about German cultural institutions, funded by the state, monitoring social media and public statements to isolate artists expressing solidarity with Palestinians. In 2024, over 500 international artists and cultural workers called for a boycott of such institutions, alleging they suppress freedom of expression and target individuals who challenge Germany’s unconditional support for Israel.