Arundhati Roy’s Bold Stand: Pulls Out of Berlin Film Festival Over ‘Jaw-Dropping’ Gaza Remarks by Jury
Indian author Arundhati Roy has announced her decision to withdraw from the Berlin Film Festival, citing dismay over remarks made by jury president Wim Wenders regarding art and politics. Roy, who gained international acclaim with her Booker Prize-winning novel “The God of Small Things,” expressed her “shock and disgust” at Wenders’s comments during a press conference, where he suggested that the festival should “stay out of politics.”
In her statement, Roy indicated that she had looked forward to presenting her 1989 film “In Which Annie Gives It Those Ones” as part of the festival’s Classics section. However, the author referred to Wenders’s statements as “unconscionable” in the context of ongoing humanitarian crises, specifically mentioning the situation in Gaza.
Wenders had responded to several questions regarding pressing global issues, asserting that pursuing dedicated political themes in filmmaking would compromise the integrity of the art form. “We have to stay out of politics… We are the counterweight of politics; we have to do the work of people, not the work of politicians,” he stated.
Roy’s reaction to Wenders’s remarks was immediate and impassioned. In a statement first shared with the Indian outlet The Wire, she found it “jaw-dropping” that members of the jury would advocate for art to remain apolitical, especially amid a crisis that she characterized as a genocide against the Palestinian people. She wrote, “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… when artists, writers, and filmmakers should be doing everything in their power to stop it.”
In her comprehensive statement, Roy reflected on the significance of her film, noting, “There was something sweet and wonderful about this for me.” She discussed her longstanding connections with German audiences, who have shown her solidarity on issues regarding Palestine. However, the remarks from the Berlin festival jury deeply troubled her. Roy emphasized the urgency of addressing what she called “the genocide of the Palestinian people by the State of Israel,” and called for artists to actively engage in social justice.
She emphasized, “If the greatest filmmakers and artists of our time cannot stand up and say so, they should know that history will judge them.” With her heartfelt missive, she solidified her choice to withdraw from the festival, affirming, “With deep regret, I must say that I will not be attending the Berlinale.”
Roy’s withdrawal from the event marks not just a personal decision but a significant moment in the ongoing discourse around the role of art in political expression. Through her actions and words, she hopes to inspire others to recognize and respond to pressing humanitarian issues, reinforcing the idea that art and activism can-and should-coexist.
Original Source: https://www.livemint.com/news/india/arundhati-roy-berlin-film-festival-over-jury-wim-wenders-unconscionable-remarks-on-gaza-jaw-dropping-full-statement-11771030394117.html
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Publish Date: 2026-02-14 06:39:00
