Berlin, Germany – Web Desk: Renowned Indian author and activist Arundhati Roy has withdrawn from the Berlin International Film Festival in protest over comments made by the festival’s jury president Wim Wenders regarding politics and cinema.
Roy’s decision followed Wenders’ remarks that cinema should remain separate from politics. Speaking at a press conference, Wenders said filmmakers should avoid entering the political arena and described art as a balancing force rather than a political tool. Jury member Eva Puszczynska also said it was not appropriate to expect a direct political position from the jury.
In a statement, Roy said she was “shocked and saddened” by the comments, arguing that art cannot and should not be apolitical. She strongly criticised Israel’s military actions in Gaza and expressed solidarity with Palestinians.
Roy, who won the Booker Prize in 1997 for The God of Small Things, was invited to present a restored version of the 1989 film In Which Annie Gives It Those Ones, in which she both acted and wrote the screenplay.
Festival organisers said they respected her decision but noted that her participation would have enriched discussions at the event. The Berlinale has previously faced criticism over its handling of the Gaza conflict, including controversy last year over a documentary award that drew objections from German officials.
