Gaza Crisis Roils Berlin Film Festival: "Refrain from Political Statements" vs "Take a Clear Stand of Opposition"

The 76th Berlin International Film Festival has been in the spotlight amid controversy over the 'political statements' of actors, directors and other film professionals.

The 76th Berlin International Film Festival has come under scrutiny amid controversy over 'political statements' by actors, directors and other film figures. Jury members. Photo by AP Yonhap News Agency

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On February 17 (local time), Yonhap News, citing the U.S. entertainment magazine Variety, reported that "the controversy began when director Wim Wenders, president of the Berlin Film Festival jury, urged filmmakers to refrain from making political statements at the opening press conference." At the time, in response to questions about the situation in the Gaza Strip in Palestine and the German government's support for Israel, Wenders said that "(filmmakers) should not be involved in politics," adding, "We are the exact opposite of politics. We should be doing the work of ordinary people, not the work of politicians."

After these remarks became known, Indian novelist Arundhati Roy, who had been scheduled to attend the festival, expressed her displeasure and announced that she would not participate in the event, and backlash spread within the film industry as well. Roy said at the time that she was "shocked by the claim that art has nothing to do with politics," strongly criticizing it as "a way of blocking discussion even as crimes against humanity are unfolding in real time."

In response, Tricia Tuttle, executive director of the Berlin Film Festival, issued a statement on February 15 saying, "Artists should not be required to comment on every broad debate around the past or present practices of a festival over which they have no control," and "they also have no obligation to speak out on every political issue that is raised, unless they wish to do so," thereby publicly defending Wenders.

Actor Swinton Tilda and 80 other film industry figures demanded that the Berlin Film Festival take a clear stance opposing the situation in Palestine. Reuters and Yonhap

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In turn, 81 film industry figures, including actors Javier Bardem and Tilda Swinton, criticized Wenders in an open letter and argued that "the festival is remaining silent on Israel's violence" and is "censoring artists who have expressed political views." They said, "The Berlin Film Festival has taken a clear stance on atrocities committed in Iran and Ukraine in the past," and demanded that the festival "fulfill its moral duty and clearly oppose the genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes being committed against Palestinians."

They also claimed that the Berlin Film Festival, mindful of the German government's support for Israel, is monitoring members of the film community who advocate for the freedom of Palestine.

Amid these developments, there has been criticism that actors attending the festival are being hounded with questions about their political views. According to the British daily The Guardian, U.S. actor Neil Patrick Harris and British actor Rupert Grint were asked questions about fascism that had nothing to do with their films, and Malaysian actor Michelle Yeoh was asked how she views U.S. politics.

Meanwhile, this year's Berlin Film Festival jury includes German director Wim Wenders as jury president, along with U.S. director Reinaldo Marcus Green, Japanese director Hikari, Nepalese director Min Bahadur Bham, Korean actor Bae Doona, Indian director Shivendra Singh Dungarpur, and film producer Ewa Puszczynska. The Berlin Film Festival, which opened on February 12, will run until February 22.

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