Wim Wenders Stuns with Public Statement; Understand What He Said

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Arundhati Roy, the Indian author and co-writer of the film Annie Give It Those Ones, withdrew from the Berlin Film Festival due to statements made by jury president Wim Wenders regarding the Gaza War.
Wim Wenders, as jury president, believes cinema has the power to bridge gaps between people and governments with differing viewpoints but maintains that films influence is not political.
Roy strongly disagreed with Wenders stance that art should not be political, describing Israels actions in Gaza as a genocide of the Palestinian people by the state of Israel.
The Berlin Film Festival commenced with technical issues during the press conference and continued until February 22nd with Shahrbanoo Sadats No Good Men. Despite Roys absence, the festival organizers expressed regret for her withdrawal and acknowledged that her presence would have enriched the debate.

On the opening day of the 2026 Berlin Film Festival, Indian author Arundhati Roy announced her withdrawal from the event following remarks made by jury president Wim Wenders regarding the Gaza War. Roy, who won the 1997 Booker Prize for her novel The God of Small Things, was scheduled to present a restored version of the 1989 film Annie Give It Those Ones, which she co-wrote and starred in.

The festival began on Thursday with politically charged discussions, including the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Wenders, who leads the competition jury, believes cinema has the power to impact the world by bridging the gap between people and governments with differing viewpoints. However, he maintains that film’s influence is not political. In his 1991 book, The Logic of Images, Wenders wrote that films claiming to be apolitical are actually the most political because they dismiss the idea of change. At a press conference, Wenders and fellow juror Ewa Puszczynska addressed questions about Germany’s support for Israel in the Gaza War. Puszczynska felt it was unfair to ask the jury for their opinions, but Wenders asserted that filmmakers should remain separate from politics, viewing cinema as a source of empathy, unlike the harshness and divisiveness of news and politics.

Berlinale Debate Erupts Over Roy’s Political Stance on Gaza Conflict and Cinema’s Role

Roy, in a statement reported by Cinepop, expressed shock and anger at the jury members’ responses to questions about the Gaza conflict and Germany’s support for Israel after the press conference. Wenders stated that cinema should not enter the realm of politics, describing filmmakers as a counterpoint to political discourse. Similarly, Puszczynska stated that it would be unfair to expect the jury to take a direct stance on the issue. In a note to AFP, Roy stated that the notion that art should not be political was “unthinkable.” She described Israel’s actions in Gaza as a “genocide of the Palestinian people by the state of Israel” and declared that artists who refuse to take a position will be judged by history. The Berlinale organization stated that it respected Roy’s decision and regretted her absence, adding that her presence would have enriched the festival debate. The festival, which experienced technical issues during the livestream of the press conference, commenced Thursday night with Shahrbanoo Sadat’s No Good Men and continues until February 22nd.

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