The Berlin International Film Festival has often been at the centre of political controversy. This year’s first dispute erupted hours before the festival opened on February 12, when a press conference introducing the international jury was livestreamed.
Festival director Tricia Tuttle and the seven jury members were presented: jury president Wim Wenders and fellow jurors Nepalese director Min Bahadur; South Korean actor Bae Doona; Indian director, producer and archivist Shivendra Singh Dungarpur; US director, screenwriter and producer Reinaldo Marcus Green; Japanese director, screenwriter and producer HIKARI; and Polish producer Ewa Puszczynska.
The livestream was interrupted just as political journalist Tilo Jung asked the jury how they felt about the Berlinale’s and the German government’s stance on Gaza. Jung noted the festival’s past solidarity with Iran and Ukraine, and asked why it had never shown solidarity with Palestine. As he raised the question — “In light of the German government’s support of the genocide in Gaza and its role as the main funder of the Berlinale, do you as a member of the jury…” — the feed was cut before he could finish: “Do you as a member of the jury support this selective treatment of human rights?”
Organizers denied censoring the topic, attributing the interruption to technical problems and apologising, saying a full recording would be published on the Berlinale website. Jung, however, expressed scepticism, pointing out that Tuttle initially tried to steer away from the subject and that some jury members gave tense, evasive replies.
When the discussion resumed on other cameras and in later postings of the conference, Puszczynska called the question “a little bit unfair,” saying cinema aims to make viewers think but cannot be responsible for political decisions. “There are many wars with genocides, and we do not talk about that,” she added, calling the matter complicated.
Wim Wenders concluded by saying: “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 to politics.” He argued that cinema’s power lies in compassion and empathy, offering what news and politics do not.
Although the feed went offline during Puszczynska’s and Wenders’ remarks, other news cameras recorded the exchange and the full press conference is available on the Berlinale website.
Jung said the jury’s responses were “questionable” and that a major film festival should not have opened under such circumstances. Wenders had earlier told dpa in 2024 that he liked the festival taking stances, referring then to the Berlinale’s decision to disinvite five politicians from the far-right AfD from the opening gala.
The Berlinale has faced criticism from opposing directions over its handling of the Gaza conflict. It has been accused of failing to show solidarity with Palestinians, while at the same time being accused of antisemitism for providing platforms to critical voices. In 2024, criticism by an Israeli filmmaker led to accusations of antisemitism. Israeli co-director Yuval Abraham of the documentary No Other Land, which depicts life in the occupied West Bank, received death threats after calling for an end to “this apartheid, this inequality” during an awards ceremony.
Ahead of the recent festival, the Berlinale emphasised its position on freedom of expression, saying all guests have a right to free speech within the law and that filmmakers may discuss the impulses behind their work and their experiences. “The Berlinale welcomes different points of view, even if this creates tension or controversy,” the festival stated.
Edited by: Andreas Illmer
Update: A link to the Berlinale press conference was added after publication of the piece.