Booker Prize Winner Arundhati Roy Boycotts Berlin Film Festival Over Jury's 'Indiscreet Remarks' on Gaza War

Booker Prize-winning renowned Indian author Arundhati Roy has announced she will boycott the Berlin International Film Festival in protest of the "indiscreet remarks" made by the jury members regarding the genocidal war waged by Israel in Gaza.

The head of the jury and acclaimed director Wim Wenders, responding to a question about Germany's support for the Israeli attack on Gaza, stated that "filmmakers should stay away from politics."

Speaking to the Indian online magazine 'The Wire', author Roy said, "The statement made by the Berlin Festival jury members, especially the chairman Wim Wenders, that art should not be mixed with politics, is shocking."

Roy further stated, "This is an attempt to shut down the dialogues taking place against the serious crime against humanity that is happening right before our eyes. I am deeply hurt and angry by this." She also emphasized that artists, writers, and filmmakers must use all their capabilities to stop the war in Gaza. 

Roy strongly criticized Israel, saying, "I want to state clearly, what happened and what is happening in Gaza is genocide committed by the State of Israel against the Palestinian people. This war is being supported and funded by the United States and Germany, along with many other European countries, which makes them accomplices in this crime."

During a panel discussion at the festival's opening session, a journalist had asked the jury's opinion on the German government's "support for the Gaza genocide" and its "discriminatory behavior on human rights issues."

In response, Wim Wenders, the chairman of the seven-member jury, stated that filmmakers should not be involved in politics. Another jury member and Polish film producer Ewa Puszczyńska reacted that asking such a question was "unfair," arguing that filmmakers cannot be held responsible for which side the government supports, Israel or Palestine. 

She added, "There are many other wars happening in the world where genocide is taking place, but we do not talk about them. Why only Gaza?"

The United States is the primary supplier of arms to Israel in its extremely brutal attack on Gaza, Palestine, followed by Germany. In protest of this, several artists expressed solidarity with the Palestinian people at the Berlin Film Festival, demonstrating against the government.

However, the German government has been taking a hard line against those supporting Palestine and Gaza in Germany. 

In 2024, more than five hundred international artists, filmmakers, and writers called for not working with German-funded cultural institutions, citing the suppression of freedom of expression. They protested Germany's policy and compared it to the US 'McCarthyism' policy. 

According to the campaign organizers, Germany is closely monitoring the social media and public expressions of cultural figures who oppose Israel's unconditional support or stand in favor of Palestine, specifically targeting them for removal.

Arundhati Roy was scheduled to attend the festival, running from February 12 to 22, as her 1989 film 'In Which Annie Gives It Does Once' was selected for screening in the festival's 'Classics' section. 

However, following the jury's recent statements, she announced she would not participate in this prestigious festival. Roy's decision has created a significant stir in the international film and art world and has also brought the Berlin Film Festival into controversy.