"Art Isn't Political": A Phrase That Ignited Fury
Roy (64) was scheduled to attend the festival for a screening of a restored version of her 1989 film, "In Which Annie Gives It Those Ones." However, statements made by jury president and acclaimed German director Wim Wenders during the opening press conference made her attendance "impossible" from an ethical standpoint.
During the conference, a political journalist posed a question to the jury members regarding "the German government's support for the genocide in Gaza" and its role in funding the festival, questioning the double standards in addressing human rights. The surprise came in Wenders' response, where he stated: "We really cannot enter the realm of politics, we must stay out of politics... We are the counterweight to politics, we are the opposite of politics."
This stance was reinforced by Polish producer and jury member Ewa Puszczyńska, who described the question as "a little bit unfair," adding that "there are other wars where genocide is being committed and we don't talk about them," and that it was unreasonable to hold artists responsible for government decisions.
Roy: "History Will Judge Them"
Arundhati Roy did not wait long to respond. In her sharp statement, the Booker Prize-winning author said: "Hearing them say that art shouldn't be political is jaw-dropping. It is a way of shutting down conversation about a crime against humanity as it unfolds before us in real-time."
Roy, known for her leftist stances and sharp criticism of the Indian government, added: "Let me say this clearly: what happened in Gaza, and what continues to happen, is a genocide of the Palestinian people by Israel. It is supported and funded by the governments of the United States and Germany, making them complicit in the crime."
She issued a warning message to her fellow artists, stating: "If the greatest filmmakers and artists of our time cannot stand up and say that, then they should know that history will judge them."
A Historical Paradox and Cultural Hypocrisy
Notably, Wim Wenders' current stance starkly contradicts his previous statements. In 2024, the German director praised the festival, saying: "Traditionally, the Berlinale has always been the most political of the major festivals. It doesn't stand aloof from things now, and it won't in the future." This contradiction has led critics to accuse the festival of double standards; it shows solidarity with Ukraine and Iran but remains silent when it comes to Palestine.
Even the press conference broadcast was not spared from controversy, as the live feed was abruptly cut during the question about Gaza—a move festival management strongly denied, attributing it to "technical issues."
More Than Just a Withdrawal
Arundhati Roy's withdrawal is not merely a transient event in the festival circuit; it is a moral condemnation of a broader cultural policy. The festival, funded by the German government and priding itself as a platform for free expression, now finds itself in an unenviable position, where the Indian writer has broken the official silence and called things by their name.
This incident raises a fundamental existential question: Can art remain "neutral" in the face of a crime against humanity? For Roy, the answer is clear: "At a time when artists, writers, and filmmakers should be doing everything in their power to stop genocide, silence is complicity."