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Deutsche Welle
- February 19, 2026 23:32 AM
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Considered one of the most political festivals, its “depoliticization” of the war in Gaza has prompted accusations of silence and censorship. “We are shocked by the involvement of the Berlinale in the censorship of artists who oppose Israel’s ongoing genocide of Palestinians in Gaza and the key role of the German state in enabling it,” said a joint statement from more than 80 film industry figures.
More than 80 actors, directors and screenwriters who are participating or have participated in the Berlin International Film Festival have signed an open letter condemning the "institutional silence" and "censorship" of the "Berlinale" regarding the war in Gaza.
The open letter, originally published by the well-known American magazine and website "Variety" on February 17, was signed by names such as 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 festival's jury president, German director Wim Wenders, who last week, responding to a journalist's question about the lack of a public statement on Gaza, said "we should stay out of politics."
Award-winning Indian author and filmmaker Arundhati Roy withdrew from participating in this year's Berlinale in reaction to Wenders' comments.
"We are shocked by the Berlinale's involvement in the censorship of artists who oppose Israel's ongoing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza and the key role of the German state in enabling it," the joint statement said.
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Multiple international human rights organizations and a UN commission of inquiry have found that Israel's war in Gaza, launched in response to Hamas-led attacks on October 7, 2023, constitutes genocide. The International Court of Justice (ICJ) is also considering a case brought by South Africa, which accuses Israel of violating the 1948 Genocide Convention. Israel has consistently denied the charges of genocide. Germany has formally intervened in the ICJ in support of Israel, rejecting the genocide charges brought by South Africa.
The actors and filmmakers who signed the open letter argue that there is a broader culture in Germany that has stifled voices in favor of Palestinian rights.
"We strongly disagree with the statement made by the president of the Berlinale 2026 jury, Wim Wenders, that filmmaking is 'the opposite of politics,'" the open letter states. "You cannot separate one from the other."
The letter notes that the "Berlinal" has in the past made "clear statements" about "atrocities" committed against civilians in Ukraine and Iran.
"We call on the 'Berlinale' to fulfill its moral obligation and clearly express its opposition to Israel's genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes against the Palestinians, and to completely cease its involvement in shielding Israel from criticism and calls for accountability," the letter reads.
Berlinale director Tricia Tuttle has dismissed accusations of censorship.
"It's not true that we're silencing filmmakers. It's not true that our programmers are intimidating filmmakers. In fact, it's the opposite," Tuttle told Deutsche Welle. "We want to create a platform at the Berlinale for freedom of expression. We want to protect people's right to speak."
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The festival director said the letter was painful to read, especially since she knows some of the signatories personally. “I would have loved for them to come to us first to talk about this issue,” she said, noting that the Israel-Gaza conflict is “perhaps the most pressing political issue of our time,” but adding that beyond those campaigning for Palestinian rights, there are also “people who want more complexity in the conversation.”
"It's so polarizing that it's very difficult to have that conversation at a film festival," she said.
One of the arguments of those asking the Berlinale to take an official stance on this issue is that the festival has done so for other conflicts in the past, for example opposing the Russian invasion of Ukraine and supporting anti-government protesters in Iran.
But Tuttle, who has been director of the Berlinale for the past two years, said that from her previous experience as director of the London Film Festival, she understood that when a stance is taken on major geopolitical issues that are not related to the films at the festival, it becomes festival history.
"I want the festival platform to be given to the 287 voices, the filmmakers who are at the festival and who are expressing all sorts of complex thoughts about the world we live in, some directly and some indirectly, some implicitly, some not so implicitly. I really want that space to be for them," she said.
The festival director said that this year she was surprised by the approach of journalists asking political questions unrelated to the films to get answers "that could be summarized in a short phrase and then turned into a viral moment."
According to her, Wim Wenders' short phrase misrepresents what the director actually said, as well as the values he has promoted throughout his five-decade career.
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"It's extremely damaging, not just for the festival, but for the whole culture, that people are forced to speak. And if they don't speak, it's seen as an insult to some. If they speak and don't say what the person asking wants to hear, that's also an insult. And if they say the wrong thing, then it becomes a big problem," she said.
The 76th Berlinale opened last Thursday with the film “No Good Men.” The first genre-defying romantic comedy from Afghanistan to be screened out of competition at the festival, it takes place in Afghanistan shortly before the Taliban return to power in 2021. “Films can change the world,” said Berlinale jury president Wim Wenders before the official opening.
