Acclaimed Indian author Arundhati Roy has pulled out of this year’s Berlin International Film Festival, citing what she described as deeply troubling remarks made by members of the event’s jury regarding the war in Gaza, as per Al Jazeera.
Arundhati Roy had been scheduled to attend the festival, which runs from February 12 to 22, for a screening of her 1989 film ‘In Which Annie Gives It Those Ones’ in the Classics section.
However, in a written statement published in Indian media, she announced her decision to withdraw, expressing dismay at comments suggesting that art should remain separate from politics.
The controversy arose during a panel discussion launching the festival, when jury members were asked about Germany’s stance on the conflict in Gaza and the broader question of human rights.
Jury president Wim Wenders argued that filmmakers should avoid entering the political arena, describing cinema as a counterbalance to politics rather than an extension of it. Fellow juror Ewa Puszczynska added that artists could not be held responsible for the foreign policies of governments.
Arundhati Roy rejected that position, writing that artists, writers and filmmakers have a moral responsibility to speak out in the face of what she called grave injustice. She described the situation in Gaza as a crime against humanity and criticised the role of Western governments in supporting Israel.
Her withdrawal adds to growing debate within the global cultural community over the role of artists in political crises. Germany has faced criticism in recent years over restrictions affecting pro-Palestinian activism and in 2024 more than 500 international cultural figures called on creatives to reconsider working with German state-funded institutions, alleging curbs on freedom of expression.
