The Pak Global Pakistan:
Dozens of actors and directors, including Javier Bardem and Tilda Swinton, have publicly condemned the Berlin International Film Festival (Berlinale) for what they describe as “anti-Palestinian racism” and urged the festival organizers to explicitly oppose what they call “Israel’s genocide” in Gaza.
In an open letter published in Variety, 81 film professionals—many of whom are Berlinale alumni—criticized this year’s jury president, Wim Wenders, for his remark that “We should stay out of politics” when asked about Gaza. The signatories argue that the festival’s silence on Gaza starkly contrasts with its strong stance on conflicts like Russia’s war in Ukraine and the situation in Iran.
The letter highlights the festival’s role in censoring artists who speak out against Israel’s actions in Gaza and points to the German government’s support as enabling these atrocities. The filmmakers cited instances from last year where artists advocating for Palestinian rights were reprimanded, investigated by police, or accused of discrimination for expressing solidarity based on international law.
“We stand with our colleagues in rejecting this institutional repression and anti-Palestinian racism,” the letter states. The signatories include notable figures such as Cherien Dabis, Brian Cox, Adam McKay, Mike Leigh, Lukas Dhont, Nan Goldin, and Avi Mograbi.
The film workers also challenged Wenders’s claim that filmmaking is apolitical, asserting, “You cannot separate one from the other.”