Arundhati Roy Exits Berlinale Over Jury's 'Unconscionable' Gaza Remarks

Award-winning Indian author and activist Arundhati Roy has announced her withdrawal from the 2026 Berlin International Film Festival (Berlinale), citing what she described as 'unconscionable statements' made by jury members regarding the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Roy's decision, announced on Friday, February 13, 2026, has sparked significant discussion globally, particularly concerning the role of art and artists in political discourse. The controversy originated from a press conference held on Thursday, February 12, 2026, where members of the Berlinale's international jury were questioned about the conflict in Gaza and Germany's support for Israel. During this interaction, jury president Wim Wenders, a celebrated German filmmaker, stated that cinema should 'stay out of politics.' He remarked, 'We have to stay out of politics because if we make movies that are dedicatedly political, we enter the field of politics. But we are the counterweight of politics, we are the opposite of politics. We have to do the work of people, not the work of politicians.' Another jury member, Ewa Puszczynska, further commented that it was 'a little bit unfair' to expect the jury to take a direct stance on the issue, noting, 'There are many other wars where genocide is committed, and we do not talk about that.' In response to these statements, Arundhati Roy released a strong statement, expressing her profound disappointment and disgust. She asserted, 'To hear them say that art should not be political is 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 — when artists, writers and filmmakers should be doing everything in their power to stop it.' Roy unequivocally described Israel's actions in Gaza as 'a genocide of the Palestinian people by the State of Israel.' She also criticized the governments of the United States and Germany, along with other European countries, for what she perceives as their complicity in the conflict through their support and funding. She concluded by stating, 'If the greatest filmmakers and artists of our time cannot stand up and say so, they should know that history will judge them. I am shocked and disgusted.' Roy was slated to be a significant guest at the Berlinale, where a 4K restored version of her 1989 cult classic film, 'In Which Annie Gives It Those Ones,' was scheduled for its world premiere in the Berlinale Classics section. The film, which she wrote and also starred in, captures student life in a Delhi architecture school in the 1970s and features early appearances by actors Shah Rukh Khan and Manoj Bajpayee. Her withdrawal means she will no longer attend the screening or associated events. This incident is not an isolated one, as restored versions of two films by late Egyptian directors, 'Sad Song of Touha' by Atteyat Al Abnoudy and 'The Dislocation of Amber' by Hussein Shariffe, have also been pulled from the festival due to similar concerns over its stance on Gaza. The Berlinale has acknowledged these withdrawals, stating, 'The Berlinale respects these decisions. We regret that we will not welcome them as their presence would have enriched the festival discourse.' Arundhati Roy is renowned globally not only for her Booker Prize-winning novel 'The God of Small Things' but also for her vocal political activism and trenchant criticism of various governments, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi's administration in India. Her consistent support for the Palestinian cause makes her withdrawal from such a prominent international platform particularly impactful. The incident at the Berlinale underscores the increasing tension between cultural institutions and geopolitical events, particularly when artists feel compelled to take a stand on human rights and political issues that they believe transcend the realm of mere entertainment or 'apolitical' art. It highlights the ongoing debate about the responsibility of cultural events and artists to address global crises. This development is highly relevant for an Indian audience, given Roy's stature as a prominent Indian intellectual and her consistent engagement with social and political issues both domestically and internationally. Her actions at an international forum often resonate deeply within India's political and cultural landscape.

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