Berlin – A Palestinian-Syrian film director accused Germany of being “partners in the genocide in Gaza by Israel” at the Berlin International Film Festival on Saturday, prompting a German minister to walk out of the awards ceremony.
Abdallah Al-Khatib, whose film “Chronicles From the Siege” won the festival’s Perspectives section for emerging filmmakers, made the accusation while accepting his award. According to reports, Al-Khatib addressed concerns about potential repercussions for speaking out as a refugee in Germany, stating, “I don’t care. I care about my people, about Palestine.” He then directly accused the German government of complicity in the ongoing conflict.
German Environment Minister Carsten Schneider, who was present at the ceremony, immediately left the hall following Al-Khatib’s remarks. A spokesperson for Schneider confirmed the minister considered the statements “unacceptable” and therefore departed the event.
The walkout was praised by Israeli Ambassador Ron Prosor, who told Germany’s Bild newspaper he respected Schneider’s “moral clarity.”
The incident occurred at the close of a politically charged Berlinale, where organizers faced criticism for not taking a more definitive stance on the war in Gaza. Earlier in the week, American actor Channing Tatum was questioned about signing an open letter calling on festival organizers to address the conflict. Reports indicate Tatum hesitated to answer, and the festival staff quickly moved on to another question.
The Berlin Film Festival has a long-standing reputation for being more politically engaged than its counterparts in Venice and Cannes. This year’s edition saw frequent discussions surrounding the Israel-Hamas war. Recently, German director Wim Wenders, serving as jury president, urged filmmakers and activists to collaborate rather than compete, following a controversy sparked by his comments suggesting filmmakers should avoid political statements. This led Indian novelist Arundhati Roy to withdraw from the jury.
Several other award winners also used their acceptance speeches to express solidarity with Gaza, adding to the festival’s atmosphere of political tension.
