Indian author Arundhati Roy withdrew from participation in the Berlin International Film Festival on Friday, citing “unconscionable statements” made by members of the festival’s jury regarding the role of art and politics, particularly in relation to Israel’s military actions in Gaza.
Roy, best known for her 1997 Booker Prize-winning novel The God of Tiny Things, had been scheduled to present a restored print of the 1989 film In Which Annie Gives It Those Ones, in which she both acted and wrote the script. Her decision follows remarks made during a press conference on Thursday by jury president Wim Wenders and other jury members when questioned about Germany’s support for Israel.
Wenders, the acclaimed German director, stated that filmmakers “have to stay out of politics,” describing them as “the counterweight to politics,” and arguing that their work should not be “dedicatedly political.” Roy, in a statement published in India’s The Wire newspaper and reported by multiple news outlets, described these comments as “jaw-dropping.”
“It is a way of shutting down a conversation about a crime against humanity even as it unfolds before us in real time,” Roy wrote. She further asserted that Israel’s actions in Gaza constitute “a genocide of the Palestinian people by the State of Israel,” adding that the war is “supported and funded by the governments of the United States and Germany, as well as several other countries in Europe, which makes them complicit in the crime.”
Roy’s withdrawal underscores a growing tension between artistic expression and political responsibility, particularly in the context of ongoing international conflicts. The Berlinale, one of the world’s leading film festivals, has faced increasing scrutiny regarding its stance on the conflict in Gaza. The festival’s opening was already described as “shaky” following the initial exchange with the jury.
The controversy centers on the jury’s position that art should remain separate from political discourse. Roy directly challenged this notion, arguing that artists and filmmakers have a moral obligation to respond to and actively oppose what she termed a genocide. She stated that artists, writers, and filmmakers “should be doing everything in their power to stop” the war.
The Indian author’s statement also highlighted the geopolitical context of the conflict, specifically referencing the financial and political support provided to Israel by the United States and Germany. This framing adds a layer of complexity to the debate, implicating these nations in the ongoing violence.
As of Friday, neither the Berlin Film Festival nor Wim Wenders have issued a public response to Roy’s withdrawal or her criticisms. The festival is scheduled to continue through February 25th.
