Over 80 international artists condemn Berlin Festival’s silence on Israel’s Gaza war

More than 80 actors and directors have sent an open letter to the organisers of the Berlin International Film Festival, urging them to take a clear stance against the mass killings of Palestinians.

Indian novelist Arundhati Roy announced her withdrawal from the festival in protest at the organisers’ failure to adopt a firm position against Israel’s actions and the ongoing war in Gaza.

The letter criticised the festival’s silence on Israeli crimes against the Palestinian people. 

The letter signatories included well-known names from the film industry, such as Spanish actor Javier Bardem, British actress Tilda Swinton, and directors Adam McKay, Fernando Meirelles, and Mike Leigh, as well as French artists Blanche Gardin and Adèle Haenel. 

Coordinated by the group Film Workers for Palestine, the letter stated that the signatories were “appalled by the continued involvement of the Berlin Festival in silencing artists who oppose the ongoing massacre of Palestinians in Gaza,” and called on the festival to “ fulfil its moral duty and clearly state its opposition to Israel’s genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes against Palestinians,” and completely end its involvement in shielding Israel from criticism and calls for accountability.” 

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