Overview
- The festival and director Tricia Tuttle issued statements defending filmmakers’ discretion and expressing support for jury president Wim Wenders after criticism from the opening-day press conference.
- Tuttle’s essay argues artists should not be expected to weigh in on all political topics and says the Berlinale’s duty is to host a range of views.
- Author Arundhati Roy canceled her planned appearance in protest over what she called an absence of condemnation regarding Gaza.
- Organizers said they respect decisions to pull work after the dispute, with restored films by Egyptian directors also withdrawn, according to festival statements reported Monday.
- Political expression continued on site with Iranian filmmakers’ “Free Iran” signs and a Potsdamer Platz performance, even as the program features 278 films tackling subjects such as genocide, wartime sexual violence, corruption and colonialism.