The Berlin International Film Festival issued a robust defense of its filmmakers and jury members on Saturday, responding to a growing controversy sparked by comments made by jury president Wim Wenders regarding the role of politics in cinema. The festival’s statement followed the withdrawal of author Arundhati Roy from the event in protest.
The initial controversy erupted earlier this week during the Berlinale’s opening press conference. When asked about the festival’s stance on the Israel-Gaza conflict, Wenders stated that filmmakers “have to stay out of politics,” adding, “We are the counterweight of politics, the opposite of politics, we have to do the work of people — not the work of politicians.” These remarks, as reported by multiple outlets including the Guardian and Variety, drew immediate criticism and were described as “shocking” by Roy.
Roy, in a statement published in India’s The Wire newspaper, described Wenders’ comments as “jaw-dropping,” arguing that they represented “a way of shutting down a conversation about a crime against humanity even as it unfolds before us in real time.” She further asserted that the situation in Gaza constitutes a “genocide of the Palestinian people by the State of Israel,” supported by governments including the United States, and Germany.
In response to the escalating criticism, the Berlinale released a two-part statement Saturday evening. A spokesperson’s statement acknowledged a “media storm” and defended the jury, asserting that some reporting had taken remarks “detached not only out of context of the full conversations but also from the lifetime of work and values these artists represent.”
The second part of the festival’s response was a more extensive “reflection” penned by festival director Tricia Tuttle, titled ‘On Speaking, Cinema and Politics.’ Tuttle addressed the increasing expectation for filmmakers to comment on political issues during press conferences, and the subsequent criticism they receive regardless of their response. “Artists are free to exercise their right of free speech in whatever way they choose,” Tuttle wrote, “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. Nor should they be expected to speak on every political issue raised to them unless they want to.”
Tuttle’s statement highlighted the diverse range of perspectives represented within the festival’s 278 films, noting that many address themes of genocide, violence, and political oppression. She emphasized that filmmakers attending the Berlinale hold a “deep respect for human dignity” and are deeply concerned with global conflicts, including those in Gaza, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Sudan, Ukraine, and the United States.
The festival director also acknowledged the challenge of maintaining a space for nuanced artistic expression in a media landscape dominated by crisis coverage. She argued that films can effect change, even if it is a “glacial shift of changing people, one heart or mind at a time.”
As of Saturday evening, the Berlinale has not announced any further responses to Roy’s withdrawal or the ongoing debate surrounding the role of politics in cinema. The festival is scheduled to continue through February 25th.