Arundhati Roy Withdraws From Berlin Film Festival Over Jury’s ‘Stay Out Of Politics’ Remarks

Last Updated:February 14, 2026, 09:08 IST

Roy was set to present the restored 1989 film In Which Annie Gives It Those Ones, but withdrew after jury chief Wim Wenders’ comments on filmmakers and the Gaza conflict.

Award-winning Indian author Arundhati Roy has pulled out of the Berlin International Film Festival, saying comments made by the event’s jury about politics and cinema left her disturbed.

Roy was scheduled to attend the festival to present a restored version of the 1989 film In Which Annie Gives It Those Ones, a project she both wrote and acted in. However, she announced she would no longer participate after a press conference where jury president Wim Wenders spoke about the role of filmmakers during discussions on the Gaza conflict.

When asked about Germany’s support for Israel, Wenders said cinema should not enter the political arena and described filmmakers as a “counterweight to politics".

Roy Says Remarks Were ‘Shocking’

In a statement, Roy said she felt “shocked and disgusted" by the replies from the jury. She added that hearing artists say cinema should remain outside politics was “jaw-dropping".

Calling the remarks “unconscionable", she said such positions made her reconsider attending the event. Roy also described Israel’s actions in Gaza as genocide and said history would judge artists who refused to speak openly.

Festival Reaction

Organisers said they respected her decision, while expressing regret that her presence would not be part of the discussions at the event.

Two restored films by late Egyptian filmmakers — Sad Song of Touha by Atteyat Al Abnoudy and The Dislocation of Amber by Hussein Shariffe — were also withdrawn over the festival’s stance.

Continuing Controversy

The Berlin Film Festival has long presented programmes linked to contemporary social issues, but this year’s edition has seen tensions over the Gaza war. Similar disputes emerged in 2024 when award-winning documentary No Other Land sparked criticism from German officials for remarks made during the ceremony.

The conflict itself began after Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack on Israel that killed more than 1,200 people, followed by Israel’s military response in Gaza that has led to tens of thousands of deaths, according to official figures.

News india Arundhati Roy Withdraws From Berlin Film Festival Over Jury’s ‘Stay Out Of Politics’ Remarks

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