Prominent artists criticise Berlinale for silence on Gaza

Los Angeles: Actors Tilda Swinton and Javier Bardem are among 81 film figures who have signed an open letter criticising the Berlin International Film Festival for remaining silent on Gaza, where Israel’s military campaign has resulted in more than 70,000 deaths over the past two years.

In the letter, first published by Variety, the signatories said they strongly rejected remarks by Wim Wenders, the Berlinale’s 2026 jury president, who had suggested that filmmaking stands apart from politics when questioned by journalist Tilo Jung about what critics called the festival’s selective solidarity with victims of global conflicts while overlooking Gaza, the Wire reported.

The comments by Wenders and the jury drew widespread criticism, and in response, writer and activist Arundhati Roy announced she would no longer attend the festival.

She said she was looking forward to but now won't attend the premiere of the restored version of her film "In Which Annie Gives it to Those Ones" as she is disappointed by Wenders' comments about staying out of politics when asked about Gaza.

The open letter, which was also shared by Mark Ruffalo on his social media page, has been signed by Angeliki Papoulia, Saleh Bakri, Tatiana Maslany, Peter Mullan and Tobias Menzies, as well as directors Mike Leigh, Lukas Dhont, Nan Goldin, and Avi Mograbi.

After the uproar over Wenders' comments, festival head Tricia Tuttle defended the jury in a statement, saying, "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." But that has done little to defuse the situation.

In the open letter, the signatories said they fervently disagree with Wenders' views on filmmaking and politics, PTI reported.

"You cannot separate one from the other," they said, pointing out how the tide is changing across the international film world as more than 5,000 film workers, including several major Hollywood names, have declared that they will not work with "complicit Israeli film companies and institutions".

The open letter also said that Berlinale has made clear statements in the past about the atrocities in Iran and Ukraine.

"We call on the Berlinale to fulfil 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," the letter concludes.

The open letter is signed by

Adam McKay

Adèle Haenel

Alan O’Gorman

Alexandra Juhasz

Alexandre Koberidze

Alia Shawkat

Alison Oliver

Alkis Papastathopoulos

Ana Naomi de Sousa

Angeliki Papoulia

Antigoni Rota

Ariane Labed

Artemis Anastasiadou

Ashley McKenzie

Avi Mograbi

Bahija Essoussi

Ben Russell

Bingham Bryant

Blake Williams

Blanche Gardin

Brett Story

Brian Cox

Camilo Restrepo

Carice Van Houten

Charlie Shackleton

Cherien Dabis

Christopher Young

Dali Benssalah

David Osit

Deragh Campbell

Dustin Defa

Eleni Alexandrakis

Elhum Shakerifar

Emilie Deleuze

Eyal Sivan

Fernando Meirelles

Fil Ieropoulos

Geoff Arbourne

Hany Abu Assad

Hind Meddeb

James Benning

Javier Bardem

John Greyson

Jon Jost

Khalid Abdalla

Leah Borromeo

Lukas Dhont

Mahdi Fleifel

Mai Masri

Malika Zouhali-Worrall

Manuel Embalse

Marina Gioti

Marion Schmidt

Merawi Gerima

Miguel Gomes

Mike Leigh

Miranda Pennell

Namir Abdel Messeeh

Nan Goldin

Narimane Mari

Nina Menkes

Pascale Ramonda

Patricia Mazuy

Paul Laverty

Pedro Pimenta

Peter Mullan

Phaedra Vokali

Robert Greene

Saeed Taji Farouky

Saleh Bakri

Samaher Alqadi

Sarah Friedland

Sepideh Farsi

Shirin Neshat

Smaro Papaevangelou

Sofia Georgovassili

Tatiana Maslany

Thodoris Dimitropoulos

Tilda Swinton

Tobias Menzies

Tyler Taormina