The 76th Berlin Film Festival (Berlinale) began last week, opening with No Good Men. This year’s jury is chaired by German filmmaker Wim Wenders.
During Berlin Film Festival’s opening press conference, Wenders was asked several questions regarding Israel’s actions in Palestine and Germany’s political support for Israel. In response he drew backlash by saying:
As filmmakers, “We have to stay out of politics because if we make movies that are dedicatedly political, we enter the field of politics.”
Following his comments, Indian author and activist Arundhati Roy announced her withdrawal from the festival. Roy described statements made by jury members regarding Israel’s war in Gaza as “conscionless” and “unacceptable.”
In the wake of Wenders’ remarks, political debates, and allegations of censorship at the festival intensified. After journalist Tilo Jung posed political questions to participating directors and actors, the festival administration issued a written statement. The statement noted that artists “should not be expected to speak on every political issue.” This clarification was widely interpreted as a direct intervention in freedom of expression, prompting further criticism.
Meanwhile, Turkish director Emin Alper premiered his new film Salvation at the Berlin Film Festival. The film is competing for the Golden Bear in the Berlin Film Festival’s main competition section. Responding to Wenders’ remarks, Alper stated:
“I have repeatedly said in various platforms that it is impossible to completely separate art and politics. Therefore, I cannot agree with Wenders’ words. In some countries, art and politics may be perceived as entirely different professional spheres. However, in Palestine, Iran, and in many countries including ours, politics is a matter of living and breathing. For this reason, it is impossible to isolate art from life and therefore from politics.”
After the screening at the Berlinale Palast, Alper addressed the audience alongside his film team, adding: “This film tells the story of how a society can commit terrible crimes. Human history is full of such stories. Unfortunately, today is no different. We are witnessing Israel’s genocide in Gaza. We cannot trust either the complicit governments in the West or the autocratic regimes outside the Western world. In the face of these crimes, we must unite as people.”
