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Berlinale Faces Fresh Pressure Over Gaza After Open Letter by 80 Artists

The row followed Wim Wenders’ claim that cinema should stay outside politics.

Overview

  • The letter, coordinated by Film Workers for Palestine, condemns the festival’s silence on Gaza and urges it to take a public position.
  • Notable signatories include Tilda Swinton, Javier Bardem, Adam McKay, Mike Leigh, Blanche Gardin and Adèle Haenel.
  • The text alleges censorship of pro‑Palestinian artists and faults the German state’s role, citing claims of surveillance and cooperation with federal police.
  • Festival director Tricia Tuttle rejects what she calls false or anonymous allegations, affirms artists’ freedom of expression and says the event is advancing step by step.
  • Programming and red‑carpet events in Berlin have continued without major disruptions so far.