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Berlinale Opens With Standout Brazilian Slate as Gaza Livestream Cut Draws Backlash, Boycott

Expanded regional funding in Brazil is bringing more filmmakers beyond RioSão Paulo onto the Berlinale stage.

Overview

  • The 76th Berlin International Film Festival runs Feb. 12–22 with a program foregrounding diversity and an unusually strong Brazilian presence across sections.
  • Brazil has nine homegrown titles in the lineup, alongside competition entries directed by Brazilians Karim Aïnouz (Rosebush Pruning) and Beth de Araújo (Josephine).
  • A livestream of the international jury press conference was cut during a question about Gaza; organizers later cited technical problems and apologized.
  • Jury members declined to take a position on Gaza, with president Wim Wenders saying artists should stay out of politics, prompting immediate criticism.
  • Author Arundhati Roy said she will boycott this year's festival following Wenders' remarks, as the Berlinale faces renewed scrutiny over its political role.